{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-69.9_2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-69.9_2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-69.9_2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-69.9_2.html"}],"law_id":68869,"edition_id":1,"section_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","history":"1973, c. 546; 1980, c. 194; 2001, c. 256; 2024, c. 723.","full_text":"Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of a full-time district court judge the successor shall be elected for a full term of six years and upon qualification shall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of his office. But subject to the provisions of \u00a7 16.1-69.9:3, the judges of the circuit having jurisdiction over the district shall have the power while the General Assembly is not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in the office of full-time district court judges. No person shall be appointed under this section until he has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal history record search and a Virginia criminal history record search, submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1515 for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect, and provided a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a pro tempore judge. Appointment to every such vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the end of thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":249309,"text":"Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of a full-time district court judge the successor shall be elected for a full term of six years and upon qualification shall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of his office. But subject to the provisions of \u00a7 16.1-69.9:3, the judges of the circuit having jurisdiction over the district shall have the power while the General Assembly is not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in the office of full-time district court judges. No person shall be appointed under this section until he has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal history record search and a Virginia criminal history record search, submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1515 for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect, and provided a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a pro tempore judge. Appointment to every such vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the end of thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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; 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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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-69.9:2\/","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. It has been modified 3 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 1980, chapter 194; in 2001, chapter 256<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 723<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":72210,"section_number":"16.1-69.9:3","catch_line":"Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.9_3\/"},{"id":59503,"section_number":"2.2-3117","catch_line":"Disclosure form","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3117\/"},{"id":67092,"section_number":"63.2-1515","catch_line":"Central registry; disclosure of information","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1515\/"}],"permalink":{"id":162147,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68869,"identifier":"16.1-69.9:2","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9_2","url":"\/16.1-69.9_2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-69.9_2\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/2\/16.1-69.9_2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Vacancies in office of judges; terms of successor judges; appointment while General Assembly not in session","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-69.9:2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of a full-time district court<\/span> judge<\/span> the successor shall be elected for a full term of six years and upon qualification shall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of his office. But subject to the provisions of \u00a7 16.1-69.9:3<\/a>, the judges<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> over the district shall have the power while the General Assembly is not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in the office of full-time district court<\/span> judges<\/span>. No person shall be appointed under this section until he has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal history record search and a Virginia criminal history record search, submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1515<\/a> for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect, and provided a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117<\/a>. No person with a criminal conviction<\/span> for a felony<\/span> shall be appointed as a pro tempore judge<\/span>. Appointment to every such vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the end of thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVACANCIES IN OFFICE OF JUDGES; TERMS OF SUCCESSOR JUDGES; APPOINTMENT WHILE\nGENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT IN SESSION (\u00a7 16.1-69.9:2)\n\nWhenever a vacancy occurs in the office of a full-time district court judge the\nsuccessor shall be elected for a full term of six years and upon qualification\nshall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of his office. But subject\nto the provisions of \u00a7 16.1-69.9:3, the judges of the circuit having\njurisdiction over the district shall have the power while the General Assembly\nis not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in the office of full-time\ndistrict court judges. No person shall be appointed under this section until he\nhas submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal\nhistory record search and a Virginia criminal history record search, submitted\nto a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1515 for any\nfounded complaint of child abuse or neglect, and provided a written statement of\neconomic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117. No person\nwith a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a pro tempore\njudge. Appointment to every such vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the\nend of thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General\nAssembly.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 546; 1980, c. 194; 2001, c. 256; 2024, c. 723.","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}}