{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-69.9.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-69.9.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-69.9.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-69.9.html"}],"law_id":75903,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75903,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.9","catch_line":"Judges in office continued; terms of judges; how elected or appointed","history":"1972, c. 708; 1973, c. 546; 1975, c. 5; 1976, c. 374; 1977, c. 536; 1980, c. 194; 2004, c. 452; 2018, c. 578.","full_text":"Every judge or justice and every associate, assistant and substitute judge or justice of a court not of record in office January 1, 1973, shall continue in office as a judge or substitute judge of such court under its designation as a general district court or juvenile and domestic relations district court until the expiration of the term for which he was appointed or elected, or until a vacancy shall occur in his office or until a successor shall be appointed or elected, whichever is the latter.\n\t\tUpon the expiration of such terms, or when a vacancy occurs, successors shall be elected only as authorized pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-69.10 and 16.1-69.14 and for the term and in the manner following:\n\n1\n\nWith respect to terms expiring on or after July 1, 1980, successors to judges shall be elected for a term of six years by the General Assembly as provided in subdivision 2.\n\t\t\tAny vacancy in the office of any full-time district court judge shall be filled for a full term of six years in the manner prescribed herein; provided that such vacancy shall not be filled except as provided in § 16.1-69.9:3.2\n\nFull-time district court judges shall be elected by the majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly. No person shall be elected or reelected to a subsequent term under this section until he has submitted to a criminal history record search and submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 63.2-1515 for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and reports of such searches have been received by the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. If the person has not met the requirement of filing in the preceding calendar year a disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117 or 30-111, he shall also provide a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. The judges of the circuit court having jurisdiction over the district may nominate a panel of no more than three persons for each judgeship within the district who are deemed qualified to hold the office. The General Assembly may consider such nominations in electing a judge to fill the office but may elect a person not on such panel to fill the office. Nominations shall be forwarded to the clerks of both houses of the General Assembly on or before December 15.3\n\nNo person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a substitute judge.\n\t\t\tIf an appointment is to be made by two or more judges and there is a tie vote, then the senior judge of the circuit court having jurisdiction in the district shall make the appointment.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":272514,"text":"Every judge or justice and every associate, assistant and substitute judge or justice of a court not of record in office January 1, 1973, shall continue in office as a judge or substitute judge of such court under its designation as a general district court or juvenile and domestic relations district court until the expiration of the term for which he was appointed or elected, or until a vacancy shall occur in his office or until a successor shall be appointed or elected, whichever is the latter.\n\t\tUpon the expiration of such terms, or when a vacancy occurs, successors shall be elected only as authorized pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-69.10 and 16.1-69.14 and for the term and in the manner following:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":272515,"text":"With respect to terms expiring on or after July 1, 1980, successors to judges shall be elected for a term of six years by the General Assembly as provided in subdivision 2.\n\t\t\tAny vacancy in the office of any full-time district court judge shall be filled for a full term of six years in the manner prescribed herein; provided that such vacancy shall not be filled except as provided in § 16.1-69.9:3.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":272516,"text":"Full-time district court judges shall be elected by the majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly. No person shall be elected or reelected to a subsequent term under this section until he has submitted to a criminal history record search and submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 63.2-1515 for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and reports of such searches have been received by the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. If the person has not met the requirement of filing in the preceding calendar year a disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117 or 30-111, he shall also provide a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. The judges of the circuit court having jurisdiction over the district may nominate a panel of no more than three persons for each judgeship within the district who are deemed qualified to hold the office. The General Assembly may consider such nominations in electing a judge to fill the office but may elect a person not on such panel to fill the office. Nominations shall be forwarded to the clerks of both houses of the General Assembly on or before December 15.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":272517,"text":"No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a substitute judge.\n\t\t\tIf an appointment is to be made by two or more judges and there is a tie vote, then the senior judge of the circuit court having jurisdiction in the district shall make the appointment.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14202,"edition_id":1,"name":"Districts; District Courts and Judges","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13142,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","permalink":{"id":162017,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14202,"identifier":"2","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2","url":"\/16.1\/4.1\/2\/","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":74896,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.10","catch_line":"Number of judges","url":"\/16.1-69.10\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.10","metadata":false},{"id":60380,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.11","catch_line":"Chief judges; judges; substitute judges","url":"\/16.1-69.11\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.11","metadata":false},{"id":64952,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.11:1","catch_line":"Acting chief judge","url":"\/16.1-69.11_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.11_1","metadata":false},{"id":68000,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.12","catch_line":"Limitations on practice of law by judges","url":"\/16.1-69.12\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.12","metadata":false},{"id":71972,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.13","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-69.13\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.13","metadata":false},{"id":69501,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.14","catch_line":"Number of substitute judges","url":"\/16.1-69.14\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.14","metadata":false},{"id":61440,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.15","catch_line":"Qualifications of judges","url":"\/16.1-69.15\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.15","metadata":false},{"id":78824,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.16","catch_line":"Residence requirements","url":"\/16.1-69.16\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.16","metadata":false},{"id":83141,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.17","catch_line":"Oath of office of judges, clerks and others","url":"\/16.1-69.17\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.17","metadata":false},{"id":86003,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.17:1","catch_line":"Time within which a judge may qualify; failure to do so vacates office","url":"\/16.1-69.17_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.17_1","metadata":false},{"id":75117,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.18","catch_line":"Bonds of judges, clerks, and others handling funds","url":"\/16.1-69.18\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.18","metadata":false},{"id":84267,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.19","catch_line":"Incompatible offices","url":"\/16.1-69.19\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.19","metadata":false},{"id":73339,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.20","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-69.20\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.20","metadata":false},{"id":65832,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.21","catch_line":"When substitute to serve; his powers and duties","url":"\/16.1-69.21\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.21","metadata":false},{"id":58346,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.22","catch_line":"Removal of judges and substitute judges","url":"\/16.1-69.22\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.22","metadata":false},{"id":66141,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.22:1","catch_line":"Temporary recall of retired district court judges; evaluation","url":"\/16.1-69.22_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.22_1","metadata":false},{"id":56292,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.23","catch_line":"In what cases judge disqualified","url":"\/16.1-69.23\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.23","metadata":false},{"id":66542,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.24","catch_line":"Contempt of court","url":"\/16.1-69.24\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.24","metadata":false},{"id":66287,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.25","catch_line":"Judge may issue warrants, summons, and subpoenas","url":"\/16.1-69.25\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.25","metadata":false},{"id":79351,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.25:1","catch_line":"Judge shall order bill of particulars; time for motion","url":"\/16.1-69.25_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.25_1","metadata":false},{"id":82607,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.26","catch_line":"Judges as conservators of the peace","url":"\/16.1-69.26\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.26","metadata":false},{"id":80094,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.27","catch_line":"Additional powers of judges","url":"\/16.1-69.27\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.27","metadata":false},{"id":60852,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.28","catch_line":"Commitment of insane, etc., persons","url":"\/16.1-69.28\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.28","metadata":false},{"id":55391,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.29","catch_line":"Jurisdiction over certain waters","url":"\/16.1-69.29\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.29","metadata":false},{"id":70053,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.29:1","catch_line":"Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty","url":"\/16.1-69.29_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.29_1","metadata":false},{"id":65606,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.6","catch_line":"Establishment of districts","url":"\/16.1-69.6\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.6","metadata":false},{"id":83634,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.6:1","catch_line":"Number of judges","url":"\/16.1-69.6_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.6_1","metadata":false},{"id":65834,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.7","catch_line":"District courts","url":"\/16.1-69.7\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.7","metadata":false},{"id":83975,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.7:1","catch_line":"Establishment of certain district courts","url":"\/16.1-69.7_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":80456,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.8","catch_line":"Existing courts continued and redesignated; exception","url":"\/16.1-69.8\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.8","metadata":false},{"id":75903,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.9","catch_line":"Judges in office continued; terms of judges; how elected or appointed","url":"\/16.1-69.9\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9","metadata":false},{"id":81797,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.9:1","catch_line":"Appointment, terms, etc., of substitute judges","url":"\/16.1-69.9_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9_1","metadata":false},{"id":68869,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.9:2","catch_line":"Vacancies in office of judges; terms of successor judges; appointment while General Assembly not in session","url":"\/16.1-69.9_2\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9_2","metadata":false},{"id":72210,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.9:3","catch_line":"Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled","url":"\/16.1-69.9_3\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9_3","metadata":false},{"id":82678,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.9:4","catch_line":"Same; election of successor judges","url":"\/16.1-69.9_4\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9_4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":80456,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.8","catch_line":"Existing courts continued and redesignated; exception","url":"\/16.1-69.8\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.8","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":81797,"structure_id":14202,"section_number":"16.1-69.9:1","catch_line":"Appointment, terms, etc., of substitute judges","url":"\/16.1-69.9_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-69.9\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1972. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 708 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 1972 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 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 1973, chapter 546; in 1975, chapter 5; in 1976, chapter 374; in 1977, chapter 536; in 1980, chapter 194; in 2004, chapter 452<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 578<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74896,"section_number":"16.1-69.10","catch_line":"Number of judges","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.10\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":74896,"section_number":"16.1-69.10","catch_line":"Number of judges","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.10\/"},{"id":69501,"section_number":"16.1-69.14","catch_line":"Number of substitute judges","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.14\/"},{"id":59503,"section_number":"2.2-3117","catch_line":"Disclosure form","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3117\/"},{"id":76882,"section_number":"30-111","catch_line":"Disclosure form","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-111\/"},{"id":67092,"section_number":"63.2-1515","catch_line":"Central registry; disclosure of information","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1515\/"}],"permalink":{"id":162139,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75903,"identifier":"16.1-69.9","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9","url":"\/16.1-69.9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-69.9\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9","dublin_core":{"Title":"Judges in office continued; terms of judges; how elected or appointed","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-69.9","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Every judge<\/span> or justice and every associate, assistant and substitute judge<\/span> or justice of a court<\/span> not of record in office January 1, 1973, shall continue in office as a judge<\/span> or substitute judge<\/span> of such court<\/span> under its designation as a general district court<\/span> or juvenile and domestic relations district court<\/span> until the expiration of the term for which he was appointed or elected, or until a vacancy shall occur in his office or until a successor shall be appointed or elected, whichever is the latter.\n\t\tUpon the expiration of such terms, or when a vacancy occurs, successors shall be elected only as authorized pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-69.10<\/a> and 16.1-69.14<\/a> and for the term and in the manner following:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> With respect to terms expiring on or after July 1, 1980, successors to judges<\/span> shall be elected for a term of six years by the General Assembly as provided in subdivision 2.\n\t\t\tAny vacancy in the office of any full-time district court<\/span> judge<\/span> shall be filled for a full term of six years in the manner prescribed herein; provided that such vacancy shall not be filled except as provided in § 16.1-69.9:3<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Full-time district court<\/span> judges<\/span> shall be elected by the majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly. No person shall be elected or reelected to a subsequent term under this section until he has submitted to a criminal history record search and submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 63.2-1515<\/a> for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and reports of such searches have been received by the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts<\/span> of Justice. If the person has not met the requirement of filing in the preceding calendar year a disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117<\/a> or 30-111<\/a>, he shall also provide a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117<\/a> to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts<\/span> of Justice. The judges<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> over the district may nominate a panel<\/span> of no more than three persons for each judgeship<\/span> within the district who are deemed qualified to hold the office. The General Assembly may consider such nominations in electing a judge<\/span> to fill the office but may elect a person not on such panel<\/span> to fill the office. Nominations shall be forwarded to the clerks of both houses of the General Assembly on or before December 15. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> No person with a criminal conviction<\/span> for a felony<\/span> shall be appointed as a substitute judge.\n\t\t\tIf an appointment is to be made by two or more judges<\/span> and there is a tie vote, then the senior judge<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> in the district shall make the appointment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nJUDGES IN OFFICE CONTINUED; TERMS OF JUDGES; HOW ELECTED OR APPOINTED (\u00a7\n16.1-69.9)\n\nEvery judge or justice and every associate, assistant and substitute judge or\njustice of a court not of record in office January 1, 1973, shall continue in\noffice as a judge or substitute judge of such court under its designation as a\ngeneral district court or juvenile and domestic relations district court until\nthe expiration of the term for which he was appointed or elected, or until a\nvacancy shall occur in his office or until a successor shall be appointed or\nelected, whichever is the latter.\n\t\tUpon the expiration of such terms, or when a vacancy occurs, successors shall\nbe elected only as authorized pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-69.10 and 16.1-69.14 and for\nthe term and in the manner following:\n\n1. With respect to terms expiring on or after July 1, 1980, successors to judges\nshall be elected for a term of six years by the General Assembly as provided in\nsubdivision 2.\n\t\t\tAny vacancy in the office of any full-time district court judge shall be\nfilled for a full term of six years in the manner prescribed herein; provided\nthat such vacancy shall not be filled except as provided in § 16.1-69.9:3.\n\n2. Full-time district court judges shall be elected by the majority of the\nmembers elected to each house of the General Assembly. No person shall be\nelected or reelected to a subsequent term under this section until he has\nsubmitted to a criminal history record search and submitted to a search of the\ncentral registry maintained pursuant to § 63.2-1515 for any founded\ncomplaint of child abuse or neglect and reports of such searches have been\nreceived by the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of\nJustice. If the person has not met the requirement of filing in the preceding\ncalendar year a disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117 or 30-111, he\nshall also provide a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure\nform prescribed in § 2.2-3117 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate\nCommittees for Courts of Justice. The judges of the circuit court having\njurisdiction over the district may nominate a panel of no more than three\npersons for each judgeship within the district who are deemed qualified to hold\nthe office. The General Assembly may consider such nominations in electing a\njudge to fill the office but may elect a person not on such panel to fill the\noffice. Nominations shall be forwarded to the clerks of both houses of the\nGeneral Assembly on or before December 15.\n\n3. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a\nsubstitute judge.\n\t\t\tIf an appointment is to be made by two or more judges and there is a tie\nvote, then the senior judge of the circuit court having jurisdiction in the\ndistrict shall make the appointment.\n\nHISTORY: 1972, c. 708; 1973, c. 546; 1975, c. 5; 1976, c. 374; 1977, c. 536;\n1980, c. 194; 2004, c. 452; 2018, c. 578.","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}}