{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-2137.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-2137.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-2137.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-2137.html"}],"law_id":55244,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55244,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2137","catch_line":"Special court; hearing and decision","history":"1976, c. 69, \u00a7 15.1-37.1:3; 1979, c. 671; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"A\n\nThe special court shall hear the case upon the evidence introduced as evidence is introduced in civil cases.B\n\nThe special court shall determine the necessity for and expediency of the acquisition of land or other proposed action and the best interests of the parties.C\n\nIf a majority of the special court is of the opinion that the proposed action is not necessary or expedient, the petition shall be dismissed. If a majority of the court is satisfied of the necessity for and expediency of the proposed action, it shall determine the terms and conditions of the action and shall enter an order granting the petition. In all contested cases, the special court shall render a written opinion. The order granting the petition shall set forth in detail all such terms and conditions upon which the petition is granted.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":202553,"text":"The special court shall hear the case upon the evidence introduced as evidence is introduced in civil cases.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":202554,"text":"The special court shall determine the necessity for and expediency of the acquisition of land or other proposed action and the best interests of the parties.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":202555,"text":"If a majority of the special court is of the opinion that the proposed action is not necessary or expedient, the petition shall be dismissed. If a majority of the court is satisfied of the necessity for and expediency of the proposed action, it shall determine the terms and conditions of the action and shall enter an order granting the petition. In all contested cases, the special court shall render a written opinion. The order granting the petition shall set forth in detail all such terms and conditions upon which the petition is granted.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13193,"edition_id":1,"name":"Water Supply Systems Generally","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13192,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","permalink":{"id":154677,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13193,"identifier":"5","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5","url":"\/15.2\/II\/21\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13192,"edition_id":1,"name":"Franchises; Sale and Lease of Certain Municipal Public Property; Public Utilities","identifier":"21","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","permalink":{"id":154333,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13192,"identifier":"21","token":"15.2\/II\/21","url":"\/15.2\/II\/21\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":84686,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2134","catch_line":"Construction of dams, etc., for purpose of providing public water supply; approval by governing body of locality","url":"\/15.2-2134\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2134","metadata":false},{"id":65586,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2135","catch_line":"Disputes between jurisdictions involving dams or water impoundment; constitution of special court; vacancies occurring during trial","url":"\/15.2-2135\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2135","metadata":false},{"id":71417,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2136","catch_line":"Powers of special court; rules of decision; order controlling subsequent conduct of case","url":"\/15.2-2136\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2136","metadata":false},{"id":55244,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2137","catch_line":"Special court; hearing and decision","url":"\/15.2-2137\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2137","metadata":false},{"id":66258,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2138","catch_line":"Dispute between jurisdictions; additional parties","url":"\/15.2-2138\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2138","metadata":false},{"id":74605,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2139","catch_line":"Special court; costs","url":"\/15.2-2139\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2139","metadata":false},{"id":77253,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2140","catch_line":"Dispute between jurisdictions; appeals","url":"\/15.2-2140\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2140","metadata":false},{"id":74755,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2141","catch_line":"Conflicting petitions for same territory; petition seeking territory in two or more counties","url":"\/15.2-2141\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2141","metadata":false},{"id":79220,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2142","catch_line":"Certain localities may construct dams across navigable streams; permission from Chief of Engineers, Secretary of Army and State Attorney General; approval of governing body","url":"\/15.2-2142\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2142","metadata":false},{"id":65184,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2143","catch_line":"Water supplies and facilities","url":"\/15.2-2143\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2143","metadata":false},{"id":54207,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2144","catch_line":"Inspection of water supplies","url":"\/15.2-2144\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2144","metadata":false},{"id":56143,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2145","catch_line":"Sale of water and use of streets by one city in another","url":"\/15.2-2145\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2145","metadata":false},{"id":86795,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2146","catch_line":"Powers of localities to acquire certain waterworks system","url":"\/15.2-2146\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2146","metadata":false},{"id":79542,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2147","catch_line":"City acquiring plant within one mile of another city","url":"\/15.2-2147\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2147","metadata":false},{"id":65927,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2148","catch_line":"Contracts for water supply","url":"\/15.2-2148\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2148","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71417,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2136","catch_line":"Powers of special court; rules of decision; order controlling subsequent conduct of case","url":"\/15.2-2136\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2136","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66258,"structure_id":13193,"section_number":"15.2-2138","catch_line":"Dispute between jurisdictions; additional parties","url":"\/15.2-2138\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2138","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-2137\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 69 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1976 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1979, chapter 671; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":154691,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55244,"identifier":"15.2-2137","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2137","url":"\/15.2-2137\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-2137\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/5\/15.2-2137","dublin_core":{"Title":"Special court; hearing and decision","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-2137","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The special court<\/span> shall hear the case upon the evidence<\/span> introduced as evidence<\/span> is introduced in civil cases. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The special court<\/span> shall determine the necessity for and expediency of the acquisition of land or other proposed action and the best interests of the parties. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If a majority of the special court<\/span> is of the opinion<\/span> that the proposed action is not necessary or expedient, the petition<\/span> shall be dismissed. If a majority of the court<\/span> is satisfied of the necessity for and expediency of the proposed action, it shall determine the terms and conditions of the action and shall enter an order<\/span> granting the petition<\/span>. In all contested cases, the special court<\/span> shall render a written opinion<\/span>. The order<\/span> granting the petition<\/span> shall set forth in detail all such terms and conditions upon which the petition<\/span> is granted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSPECIAL COURT; HEARING AND DECISION (\u00a7 15.2-2137)\n\nA. The special court shall hear the case upon the evidence introduced as\nevidence is introduced in civil cases.\n\nB. The special court shall determine the necessity for and expediency of the\nacquisition of land or other proposed action and the best interests of the\nparties.\n\nC. If a majority of the special court is of the opinion that the proposed action\nis not necessary or expedient, the petition shall be dismissed. If a majority of\nthe court is satisfied of the necessity for and expediency of the proposed\naction, it shall determine the terms and conditions of the action and shall\nenter an order granting the petition. In all contested cases, the special court\nshall render a written opinion. The order granting the petition shall set forth\nin detail all such terms and conditions upon which the petition is granted.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 69, \u00a7 15.1-37.1:3; 1979, c. 671; 1997, c. 587.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}