{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-501.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-501.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-501.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-501.html"}],"law_id":67003,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67003,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-501","catch_line":"Judges of circuit courts; selection, powers and duties of chief judges; exercise of appointive powers","history":"1973, c. 544, \u00a7 17-116.2; 1976, c. 124; 1994, c. 407; 1998, c. 872; 2004, c. 452; 2005, c. 183; 2018, c. 578.","full_text":"A\n\nThere shall be as many judges of the circuit courts as may be fixed by the General Assembly. The judges of each circuit shall select from their number by majority vote a chief judge of the circuit, who shall serve for the term of two years. In the event such judges cannot agree as to who shall be chief judge, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall act as tie breaker.B\n\nThe chief judge of the circuit shall ensure that the system of justice in his circuit operates smoothly and efficiently. He shall have authority to assign the work of the circuit among the judges, and in doing so he may consider the nature and categories of the cases to be assigned.C\n\nUnless otherwise provided by law, powers of appointment within a circuit shall be exercised by a majority of the judges of the circuit; however, the order of appointment may be signed by the chief judge or that judge’s designee on behalf of the other judges. In case of a tie, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint a circuit judge from another circuit who shall act as tie breaker. Where the power of appointment is to be exercised by a majority of the judges of the Second Judicial Circuit and such appointment is to a local post, board or commission in Accomack or Northampton County, the resident judge or judges of the County of Accomack or Northampton shall exercise such appointment power as if he or they comprise the majority of the judges of the circuit.D\n\nNo person shall be appointed or reappointed under this section until he has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal records search and a Virginia criminal history records search, submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 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 § 2.2-3117. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a judge.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242863,"text":"There shall be as many judges of the circuit courts as may be fixed by the General Assembly. The judges of each circuit shall select from their number by majority vote a chief judge of the circuit, who shall serve for the term of two years. In the event such judges cannot agree as to who shall be chief judge, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall act as tie breaker.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":242864,"text":"The chief judge of the circuit shall ensure that the system of justice in his circuit operates smoothly and efficiently. He shall have authority to assign the work of the circuit among the judges, and in doing so he may consider the nature and categories of the cases to be assigned.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":242865,"text":"Unless otherwise provided by law, powers of appointment within a circuit shall be exercised by a majority of the judges of the circuit; however, the order of appointment may be signed by the chief judge or that judge’s designee on behalf of the other judges. In case of a tie, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint a circuit judge from another circuit who shall act as tie breaker. Where the power of appointment is to be exercised by a majority of the judges of the Second Judicial Circuit and such appointment is to a local post, board or commission in Accomack or Northampton County, the resident judge or judges of the County of Accomack or Northampton shall exercise such appointment power as if he or they comprise the majority of the judges of the circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":242866,"text":"No person shall be appointed or reappointed under this section until he has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal records search and a Virginia criminal history records search, submitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 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 § 2.2-3117. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a judge.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13258,"edition_id":1,"name":"Establishment; Jurisdiction; Etc","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13257,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","permalink":{"id":163697,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13258,"identifier":"1","token":"17.1\/5\/1","url":"\/17.1\/5\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13257,"edition_id":1,"name":"Circuit Courts","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12766,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","permalink":{"id":163695,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13257,"identifier":"5","token":"17.1\/5","url":"\/17.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12766,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts of Record","identifier":"17.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":162799,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12766,"identifier":"17.1","token":"17.1","url":"\/17.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":85737,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-500","catch_line":"Establishment of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-500\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":67003,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-501","catch_line":"Judges of circuit courts; selection, powers and duties of chief judges; exercise of appointive powers","url":"\/17.1-501\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":79916,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-502","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Administrator of circuit court system","url":"\/17.1-502\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":82440,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-503","catch_line":"Rules of practice and procedure; rules not to preclude judges from hearing certain cases","url":"\/17.1-503\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":81321,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-504","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/17.1-504\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":69322,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-505","catch_line":"Circuit court of county to constitute circuit court of certain cities","url":"\/17.1-505\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":80487,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-506","catch_line":"Judicial circuits","url":"\/17.1-506\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":63426,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-507","catch_line":"Maximum number of judges; residence requirement; compensation; powers; etc","url":"\/17.1-507\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-507","metadata":false},{"id":81563,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-508","catch_line":"Judges in new or changed circuits; ratifying, validating and confirming certain actions","url":"\/17.1-508\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-508","metadata":false},{"id":76704,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-509","catch_line":"Vacancies in office of judge","url":"\/17.1-509\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-509","metadata":false},{"id":85553,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-510","catch_line":"Election of judge of new circuit; how court held meanwhile","url":"\/17.1-510\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":86070,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-511","catch_line":"Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled","url":"\/17.1-511\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":63299,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-512","catch_line":"Election of successor judge before date of vacancy","url":"\/17.1-512\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":69430,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-513","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-513\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":75083,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-513.01","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of circuit courts with respect to charitable assets","url":"\/17.1-513.01\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513.01","metadata":false},{"id":85866,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-513.1","catch_line":"Appeals from administrative proceedings; 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how fixed","url":"\/17.1-517\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-517","metadata":false},{"id":67026,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-518","catch_line":"Special terms; when, how and by whom appointed","url":"\/17.1-518\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-518","metadata":false},{"id":78723,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-519","catch_line":"Adjournment thereof to a future day","url":"\/17.1-519\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-519","metadata":false},{"id":65045,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-520","catch_line":"What tried at a special term","url":"\/17.1-520\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-520","metadata":false},{"id":82579,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-521","catch_line":"Who to hold special term; powers","url":"\/17.1-521\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-521","metadata":false},{"id":59896,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-522","catch_line":"Adjournment of special term","url":"\/17.1-522\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-522","metadata":false},{"id":56333,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-523","catch_line":"Salaries of judges of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-523\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-523","metadata":false},{"id":80395,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-524","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-524\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-524","metadata":false},{"id":80472,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-525","catch_line":"Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty","url":"\/17.1-525\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-525","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85737,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-500","catch_line":"Establishment of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-500\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-500","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":79916,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-502","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Administrator of circuit court system","url":"\/17.1-502\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-502","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-501\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 544 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 6 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 1976, chapter 124; in 1994, chapter 407<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 872<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 452<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 183<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 578<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"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":163703,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67003,"identifier":"17.1-501","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-501","url":"\/17.1-501\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-501\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-501","dublin_core":{"Title":"Judges of circuit courts; selection, powers and duties of chief judges; exercise of appointive powers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-501","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> There shall be as many judges<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> as may be fixed by the General Assembly. The judges<\/span> of each circuit<\/span> shall select from their number by majority vote a chief judge<\/span> of the circuit<\/span>, who shall serve for the term of two years. In the event such judges<\/span> cannot agree as to who shall be chief judge<\/span>, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court<\/span> shall act as tie breaker. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The chief judge<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> shall ensure that the system of justice in his circuit<\/span> operates smoothly and efficiently. He shall have authority to assign the work of the circuit<\/span> among the judges<\/span>, and in doing so he may consider the nature and categories of the cases to be assigned. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Unless otherwise provided by law<\/span>, powers of appointment within a circuit<\/span> shall be exercised by a majority of the judges<\/span> of the circuit<\/span>; however, the order<\/span> of appointment may be signed by the chief judge<\/span> or that judge’s designee on behalf of the other judges<\/span>. In case of a tie, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court<\/span> shall appoint a circuit<\/span> judge from another circuit<\/span> who shall act as tie breaker. Where the power of appointment is to be exercised by a majority of the judges<\/span> of the Second Judicial Circuit<\/span> and such appointment is to a local post, board or commission in Accomack or Northampton County, the resident judge or judges<\/span> of the County of Accomack or Northampton shall exercise such appointment power as if he or they comprise the majority of the judges<\/span> of the circuit<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> No person shall be appointed or reappointed under this section until he has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal records search and a Virginia criminal history records search, 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 provided a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in § 2.2-3117<\/a>. No person with a criminal conviction<\/span> for a felony<\/span> shall be appointed as a judge. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nJUDGES OF CIRCUIT COURTS; SELECTION, POWERS AND DUTIES OF CHIEF JUDGES; EXERCISE\nOF APPOINTIVE POWERS (\u00a7 17.1-501)\n\nA. There shall be as many judges of the circuit courts as may be fixed by the\nGeneral Assembly. The judges of each circuit shall select from their number by\nmajority vote a chief judge of the circuit, who shall serve for the term of two\nyears. In the event such judges cannot agree as to who shall be chief judge, the\nChief Justice of the Supreme Court shall act as tie breaker.\n\nB. The chief judge of the circuit shall ensure that the system of justice in his\ncircuit operates smoothly and efficiently. He shall have authority to assign the\nwork of the circuit among the judges, and in doing so he may consider the nature\nand categories of the cases to be assigned.\n\nC. Unless otherwise provided by law, powers of appointment within a circuit\nshall be exercised by a majority of the judges of the circuit; however, the\norder of appointment may be signed by the chief judge or that judge’s\ndesignee on behalf of the other judges. In case of a tie, the Chief Justice of\nthe Supreme Court shall appoint a circuit judge from another circuit who shall\nact as tie breaker. Where the power of appointment is to be exercised by a\nmajority of the judges of the Second Judicial Circuit and such appointment is to\na local post, board or commission in Accomack or Northampton County, the\nresident judge or judges of the County of Accomack or Northampton shall exercise\nsuch appointment power as if he or they comprise the majority of the judges of\nthe circuit.\n\nD. No person shall be appointed or reappointed under this section until he has\nsubmitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a national criminal\nrecords search and a Virginia criminal history records search, submitted to a\nsearch of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 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 § 2.2-3117. No\nperson with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a judge.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 544, \u00a7 17-116.2; 1976, c. 124; 1994, c. 407; 1998, c. 872;\n2004, c. 452; 2005, c. 183; 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}}