{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3000.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3000.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3000.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3000.html"}],"law_id":85081,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85081,"structure_id":13829,"section_number":"15.2-3000","catch_line":"Special court to hear certain cases","history":"1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-1168; 1983, c. 523; 1985, c. 66; 1988, c. 881; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, whenever any matter provided for in Chapters 32 (\u00a7 15.2-3200 et seq.), 33 (\u00a7 15.2-3300 et seq.), 34 (\u00a7 15.2-3400 et seq.), 35 (\u00a7 15.2-3500 et seq.), 36 (\u00a7 15.2-3600 et seq.), 38 (\u00a7 15.2-3800 et seq.), 39, (\u00a7 15.2-3900 et seq.), 40 (\u00a7 15.2-4000 et seq.) and 41 (\u00a7 15.2-4100 et seq.) of this title, is required to be decided by a court, the court, unless a different intent appears from the context, shall be composed of three circuit court judges appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Such special court shall sit without a jury. The three judges shall be chosen from a panel of fifteen judges selected to hear such matters by the Supreme Court. Such judges shall remain on the panel for a period of time determined by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court unless otherwise provided by law. When any petition or other matter required by the above-stated chapters to be decided by the special court is filed in a circuit court, the chief circuit court judge shall certify the filing to the Supreme Court and request the appointment of three members from the panel to hear the matter. No judge may be appointed to hear a matter involving jurisdictions in his own circuit.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304926,"text":"Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, whenever any matter provided for in Chapters 32 (\u00a7 15.2-3200 et seq.), 33 (\u00a7 15.2-3300 et seq.), 34 (\u00a7 15.2-3400 et seq.), 35 (\u00a7 15.2-3500 et seq.), 36 (\u00a7 15.2-3600 et seq.), 38 (\u00a7 15.2-3800 et seq.), 39, (\u00a7 15.2-3900 et seq.), 40 (\u00a7 15.2-4000 et seq.) and 41 (\u00a7 15.2-4100 et seq.) of this title, is required to be decided by a court, the court, unless a different intent appears from the context, shall be composed of three circuit court judges appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Such special court shall sit without a jury. The three judges shall be chosen from a panel of fifteen judges selected to hear such matters by the Supreme Court. Such judges shall remain on the panel for a period of time determined by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court unless otherwise provided by law. When any petition or other matter required by the above-stated chapters to be decided by the special court is filed in a circuit court, the chief circuit court judge shall certify the filing to the Supreme Court and request the appointment of three members from the panel to hear the matter. No judge may be appointed to hear a matter involving jurisdictions in his own circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13829,"edition_id":1,"name":"Special Courts","identifier":"30","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:00","permalink":{"id":156959,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13829,"identifier":"30","token":"15.2\/III\/30","url":"\/15.2\/III\/30\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13062,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":156919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13062,"identifier":"III","token":"15.2\/III","url":"\/15.2\/III\/","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":85081,"structure_id":13829,"section_number":"15.2-3000","catch_line":"Special court to hear certain cases","url":"\/15.2-3000\/","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3000","metadata":false},{"id":77270,"structure_id":13829,"section_number":"15.2-3001","catch_line":"Priority of proceedings in special courts","url":"\/15.2-3001\/","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3001","metadata":false},{"id":74072,"structure_id":13829,"section_number":"15.2-3002","catch_line":"Designation of judges for panel","url":"\/15.2-3002\/","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3002","metadata":false},{"id":54844,"structure_id":13829,"section_number":"15.2-3003","catch_line":"Service on special court","url":"\/15.2-3003\/","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3003","metadata":false},{"id":85736,"structure_id":13829,"section_number":"15.2-3004","catch_line":"Vacancies on court occurring during trial","url":"\/15.2-3004\/","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3004","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":77270,"structure_id":13829,"section_number":"15.2-3001","catch_line":"Priority of proceedings in special courts","url":"\/15.2-3001\/","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3001","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3000\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 85 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 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1983, chapter 523; in 1985, chapter 66; in 1988, chapter 881; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77270,"section_number":"15.2-3001","catch_line":"Priority of proceedings in special courts","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3001\/"},{"id":74072,"section_number":"15.2-3002","catch_line":"Designation of judges for panel","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3002\/"},{"id":80738,"section_number":"15.2-3109","catch_line":"Court-ordered adjustment of boundary lines","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3109\/"},{"id":61095,"section_number":"15.2-3202","catch_line":"Ordinance for annexation by city or town; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3202\/"},{"id":79777,"section_number":"15.2-3235","catch_line":"Appeal","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3235\/"},{"id":86007,"section_number":"15.2-3237","catch_line":"Application to be made to circuit court; appointment of special court; who may appear against","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3237\/"},{"id":56506,"section_number":"15.2-3241","catch_line":"Petition for contraction of towns located in two or more counties; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3241\/"},{"id":82303,"section_number":"15.2-3304","catch_line":"Immunity based upon provision of urban-type services","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3304\/"},{"id":75841,"section_number":"15.2-3400","catch_line":"Voluntary settlements among local governments","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3400\/"},{"id":76330,"section_number":"15.2-3522","catch_line":"Petition; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3522\/"},{"id":57952,"section_number":"15.2-3600","catch_line":"Petition for incorporation of community; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3600\/"},{"id":80368,"section_number":"15.2-3800","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3800\/"},{"id":76616,"section_number":"15.2-3901","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court to declare eligibility","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3901\/"},{"id":83592,"section_number":"15.2-4002","catch_line":"Report from Commission to be certified to circuit court; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4002\/"},{"id":73202,"section_number":"15.2-4101","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for town status; notice of motion","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4101\/"},{"id":63691,"section_number":"15.2-4120","catch_line":"Court granting transition to town status to exist for 10 years","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4120\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55382,"section_number":"15.2-3200","catch_line":"Boundaries of cities and towns to remain as established until changed","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3200\/"},{"id":63407,"section_number":"15.2-3300","catch_line":"Purposes of chapter","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3300\/"},{"id":75841,"section_number":"15.2-3400","catch_line":"Voluntary settlements among local governments","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3400\/"},{"id":71162,"section_number":"15.2-3500","catch_line":"Application of article","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3500\/"},{"id":57952,"section_number":"15.2-3600","catch_line":"Petition for incorporation of community; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3600\/"},{"id":80368,"section_number":"15.2-3800","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3800\/"},{"id":78407,"section_number":"15.2-3900","catch_line":"Transition authorized","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3900\/"},{"id":75370,"section_number":"15.2-4000","catch_line":"Enjoyment of city status until requirements of chapter fulfilled","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4000\/"},{"id":78761,"section_number":"15.2-4100","catch_line":"City may change to town status","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":156961,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85081,"identifier":"15.2-3000","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3000","url":"\/15.2-3000\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3000\/","token":"15.2\/III\/30\/15.2-3000","dublin_core":{"Title":"Special court to hear certain cases","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3000","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law<\/span>, whenever any matter provided for in Chapters 32 (\u00a7 15.2-3200<\/a> et seq.), 33 (\u00a7 15.2-3300<\/a> et seq.), 34 (\u00a7 15.2-3400<\/a> et seq.), 35 (\u00a7 15.2-3500<\/a> et seq.), 36 (\u00a7 15.2-3600<\/a> et seq.), 38 (\u00a7 15.2-3800<\/a> et seq.), 39, (\u00a7 15.2-3900<\/a> et seq.), 40 (\u00a7 15.2-4000<\/a> et seq.) and 41 (\u00a7 15.2-4100<\/a> et seq.) of this title, is required to be decided by a court<\/span>, the court<\/span>, unless a different intent<\/span> appears from the context, shall be composed of three circuit<\/span> court<\/span> judges<\/span> appointed by the Supreme Court<\/span> of Virginia. Such special court<\/span> shall sit without a jury<\/span>. The three judges<\/span> shall be chosen from a panel<\/span> of fifteen judges<\/span> selected to hear such matters by the Supreme Court<\/span>. Such judges<\/span> shall remain on the panel<\/span> for a period of time determined by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court<\/span> unless otherwise provided by law<\/span>. When any petition<\/span> or other matter required by the above-stated chapters to be decided by the special court<\/span> is filed in a circuit<\/span> court<\/span>, the chief circuit<\/span> court<\/span> judge<\/span> shall certify the filing to the Supreme Court<\/span> and request the appointment of three members from the panel<\/span> to hear the matter. No judge<\/span> may be appointed to hear a matter involving jurisdictions<\/span> in his own circuit<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSPECIAL COURT TO HEAR CERTAIN CASES (\u00a7 15.2-3000)\n\nNotwithstanding any contrary provision of law, whenever any matter provided for\nin Chapters 32 (\u00a7 15.2-3200 et seq.), 33 (\u00a7 15.2-3300 et seq.), 34 (\u00a7\n15.2-3400 et seq.), 35 (\u00a7 15.2-3500 et seq.), 36 (\u00a7 15.2-3600 et seq.), 38 (\u00a7\n15.2-3800 et seq.), 39, (\u00a7 15.2-3900 et seq.), 40 (\u00a7 15.2-4000 et seq.) and 41\n(\u00a7 15.2-4100 et seq.) of this title, is required to be decided by a court, the\ncourt, unless a different intent appears from the context, shall be composed of\nthree circuit court judges appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Such\nspecial court shall sit without a jury. The three judges shall be chosen from a\npanel of fifteen judges selected to hear such matters by the Supreme Court. Such\njudges shall remain on the panel for a period of time determined by the Chief\nJustice of the Supreme Court unless otherwise provided by law. When any petition\nor other matter required by the above-stated chapters to be decided by the\nspecial court is filed in a circuit court, the chief circuit court judge shall\ncertify the filing to the Supreme Court and request the appointment of three\nmembers from the panel to hear the matter. No judge may be appointed to hear a\nmatter involving jurisdictions in his own circuit.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-1168; 1983, c. 523; 1985, c. 66; 1988, c. 881;\n1997, 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}}