{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-69.43.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-69.43.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-69.43.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-69.43.html"}],"law_id":85799,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85799,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.43","catch_line":"Judge before whom accused was arraigned may hear case on merits; judge who has heard part of case may hear case to conclusion","history":"1973, c. 546.","full_text":"No rule shall hereafter be promulgated under the limitations of \u00a7 8.01-4 or otherwise, which would avoid or preclude the judge before whom an accused is arraigned in criminal cases from hearing all aspects of the case on its merits, or to avoid or preclude any judge in any case who has heard any part of the case on its merits, from hearing the case to its conclusion; provided, however, another judge may hear portions of a case where a judge is required to disqualify himself, in cases in which a mistrial is declared, or in cases which have been reversed on appeal, or in the event of sickness, disability or vacation of the judge. The parties to any suit, action, cause or prosecution may waive the provisions of this section. Such waiver shall be entered of record.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":307264,"text":"No rule shall hereafter be promulgated under the limitations of \u00a7 8.01-4 or otherwise, which would avoid or preclude the judge before whom an accused is arraigned in criminal cases from hearing all aspects of the case on its merits, or to avoid or preclude any judge in any case who has heard any part of the case on its merits, from hearing the case to its conclusion; provided, however, another judge may hear portions of a case where a judge is required to disqualify himself, in cases in which a mistrial is declared, or in cases which have been reversed on appeal, or in the event of sickness, disability or vacation of the judge. The parties to any suit, action, cause or prosecution may waive the provisions of this section. Such waiver shall be entered of record.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13317,"edition_id":1,"name":"Judges and Personnel of the District Courts","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13142,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:38","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:38","permalink":{"id":162209,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13317,"identifier":"4","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4","url":"\/16.1\/4.1\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13142,"edition_id":1,"name":"District Courts","identifier":"4.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12700,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","permalink":{"id":161993,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13142,"identifier":"4.1","token":"16.1\/4.1","url":"\/16.1\/4.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12700,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts Not of Record","identifier":"16.1","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":160919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12700,"identifier":"16.1","token":"16.1","url":"\/16.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62755,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.37","catch_line":"Personnel continued in office","url":"\/16.1-69.37\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.37","metadata":false},{"id":79551,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.38","catch_line":"Authorization for substitute judges and personnel","url":"\/16.1-69.38\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.38","metadata":false},{"id":67637,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.39","catch_line":"Appointment of personnel","url":"\/16.1-69.39\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.39","metadata":false},{"id":80949,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.39:1","catch_line":"Legal service to district court employees and magistrates","url":"\/16.1-69.39_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.39_1","metadata":false},{"id":57017,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.40","catch_line":"Powers and duties of clerks; civil liability","url":"\/16.1-69.40\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.40","metadata":false},{"id":78789,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.40:1","catch_line":"Traffic infractions within authority of traffic violations clerk; schedule of fines; prepayment of local ordinances","url":"\/16.1-69.40_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.40_1","metadata":false},{"id":54305,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.40:2","catch_line":"Nontraffic offenses for which prepayment authorized; schedules, fines; prepayment of local ordinances","url":"\/16.1-69.40_2\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.40_2","metadata":false},{"id":78148,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.40:3","catch_line":"Financial responsibilities of judges and clerks","url":"\/16.1-69.40_3\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.40_3","metadata":false},{"id":82815,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.41","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-69.41\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.41","metadata":false},{"id":55785,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.42","catch_line":"Clerk when authorized by judge may execute appeal bonds; may make out and attest transcripts","url":"\/16.1-69.42\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.42","metadata":false},{"id":85799,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.43","catch_line":"Judge before whom accused was arraigned may hear case on merits; judge who has heard part of case may hear case to conclusion","url":"\/16.1-69.43\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.43","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55785,"structure_id":13317,"section_number":"16.1-69.42","catch_line":"Clerk when authorized by judge may execute appeal bonds; may make out and attest transcripts","url":"\/16.1-69.42\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.42","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-69.43\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 546 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 1973 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":87298,"section_number":"8.01-4","catch_line":"District courts and circuit courts may prescribe certain rules","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-4\/"}],"permalink":{"id":162251,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85799,"identifier":"16.1-69.43","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.43","url":"\/16.1-69.43\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-69.43\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/4\/16.1-69.43","dublin_core":{"Title":"Judge before whom accused was arraigned may hear case on merits; judge who has heard part of case may hear case to conclusion","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-69.43","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No rule shall hereafter be promulgated under the limitations of \u00a7 8.01-4<\/a> or otherwise, which would avoid or preclude the judge<\/span> before whom an accused<\/span> is arraigned in criminal cases from hearing<\/span> all aspects of the case on its merits, or to avoid or preclude any judge<\/span> in any case who has heard any part of the case on its merits, from hearing<\/span> the case to its conclusion; provided, however, another judge<\/span> may hear portions of a case where a judge<\/span> is required to disqualify himself, in cases in which a mistrial<\/span> is declared, or in cases which have been reversed on appeal<\/span>, or in the event of sickness, disability or vacation of the judge<\/span>. The parties to any suit, action, cause or prosecution<\/span> may waive<\/span> the provisions of this section. Such waiver<\/span> shall be entered of record.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nJUDGE BEFORE WHOM ACCUSED WAS ARRAIGNED MAY HEAR CASE ON MERITS; JUDGE WHO HAS\nHEARD PART OF CASE MAY HEAR CASE TO CONCLUSION (\u00a7 16.1-69.43)\n\nNo rule shall hereafter be promulgated under the limitations of \u00a7 8.01-4 or\notherwise, which would avoid or preclude the judge before whom an accused is\narraigned in criminal cases from hearing all aspects of the case on its merits,\nor to avoid or preclude any judge in any case who has heard any part of the case\non its merits, from hearing the case to its conclusion; provided, however,\nanother judge may hear portions of a case where a judge is required to\ndisqualify himself, in cases in which a mistrial is declared, or in cases which\nhave been reversed on appeal, or in the event of sickness, disability or\nvacation of the judge. The parties to any suit, action, cause or prosecution may\nwaive the provisions of this section. Such waiver shall be entered of record.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 546.","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}}