{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-506.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-506.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-506.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-506.html"}],"law_id":80487,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80487,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-506","catch_line":"Judicial circuits","history":"1973, c. 544, \u00a7 17-119.1:1; 1974, c. 297; 1976, c. 126; 1977, c. 4; 1983, c. 149; 1986, c. 405; 1987, c. 624; 1991, c. 189; 1998, c. 872; 2006, c. 861; 2016, cc. 164, 312.","full_text":"1\n\nThe City of Chesapeake shall constitute the first circuit.2\n\nThe City of Virginia Beach and the Counties of Accomack and Northampton shall constitute the second circuit.3\n\nThe City of Portsmouth shall constitute the third circuit.4\n\nThe City of Norfolk shall constitute the fourth circuit.5\n\nThe Cities of Franklin and Suffolk and the Counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton shall constitute the fifth circuit.6\n\nThe Cities of Emporia and Hopewell and the Counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex shall constitute the sixth circuit.7\n\nThe City of Newport News shall constitute the seventh circuit.8\n\nThe City of Hampton shall constitute the eighth circuit.9\n\nThe Cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg and the Counties of Charles City, Gloucester, James City, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent and York shall constitute the ninth circuit.10\n\nThe Counties of Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Prince Edward shall constitute the tenth circuit.11\n\nThe City of Petersburg and the Counties of Amelia, Dinwiddie, Nottoway and Powhatan shall constitute the eleventh circuit.12\n\nThe City of Colonial Heights and the County of Chesterfield shall constitute the twelfth circuit.13\n\nThe City of Richmond shall constitute the thirteenth circuit.14\n\nThe County of Henrico shall constitute the fourteenth circuit.15\n\nThe City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Caroline, Essex, Hanover, King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland shall constitute the fifteenth circuit.16\n\nThe City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison and Orange shall constitute the sixteenth circuit.17\n\nThe County of Arlington and the City of Falls Church shall constitute the seventeenth circuit.18\n\nThe City of Alexandria shall constitute the eighteenth circuit.19\n\nThe City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax shall constitute the nineteenth circuit.20\n\nThe Counties of Fauquier, Loudoun and Rappahannock shall constitute the twentieth circuit.21\n\nThe City of Martinsville and the Counties of Henry and Patrick shall constitute the twenty-first circuit.22\n\nThe City of Danville and the Counties of Franklin and Pittsylvania shall constitute the twenty-second circuit.23\n\nThe Cities of Roanoke and Salem and the County of Roanoke shall constitute the twenty-third circuit.24\n\nThe City of Lynchburg and the Counties of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and Nelson shall constitute the twenty-fourth circuit.25\n\nThe Cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro and the Counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland and Rockbridge shall constitute the twenty-fifth circuit.26\n\nThe Cities of Harrisonburg and Winchester and the Counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren shall constitute the twenty-sixth circuit.27\n\nThe Cities of Galax and Radford and the Counties of Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe shall constitute the twenty-seventh circuit.28\n\nThe City of Bristol and the Counties of Smyth and Washington shall constitute the twenty-eighth circuit.29\n\nThe Counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell shall constitute the twenty-ninth circuit.30\n\nThe City of Norton and the Counties of Lee, Scott and Wise shall constitute the thirtieth circuit.31\n\nThe Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and the County of Prince William shall constitute the thirty-first circuit.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":288308,"text":"The City of Chesapeake shall constitute the first circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"next_prefix":"2"},"1":{"id":288309,"text":"The City of Virginia Beach and the Counties of Accomack and Northampton shall constitute the second circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"2":{"id":288310,"text":"The City of Portsmouth shall constitute the third circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"3":{"id":288311,"text":"The City of Norfolk shall constitute the fourth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"4":{"id":288312,"text":"The Cities of Franklin and Suffolk and the Counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton shall constitute the fifth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"5":{"id":288313,"text":"The Cities of Emporia and Hopewell and the Counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex shall constitute the sixth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"6":{"id":288314,"text":"The City of Newport News shall constitute the seventh circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"7":{"id":288315,"text":"The City of Hampton shall constitute the eighth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"8":{"id":288316,"text":"The Cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg and the Counties of Charles City, Gloucester, James City, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent and York shall constitute the ninth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"9":{"id":288317,"text":"The Counties of Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Prince Edward shall constitute the tenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"10":{"id":288318,"text":"The City of Petersburg and the Counties of Amelia, Dinwiddie, Nottoway and Powhatan shall constitute the eleventh circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10","next_prefix":"12"},"11":{"id":288319,"text":"The City of Colonial Heights and the County of Chesterfield shall constitute the twelfth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"12","prefix_anchor":"12","level":1,"prior_prefix":"11","next_prefix":"13"},"12":{"id":288320,"text":"The City of Richmond shall constitute the thirteenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["13"],"prefix":"13","entire_prefix":"13","prefix_anchor":"13","level":1,"prior_prefix":"12","next_prefix":"14"},"13":{"id":288321,"text":"The County of Henrico shall constitute the fourteenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["14"],"prefix":"14","entire_prefix":"14","prefix_anchor":"14","level":1,"prior_prefix":"13","next_prefix":"15"},"14":{"id":288322,"text":"The City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Caroline, Essex, Hanover, King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland shall constitute the fifteenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["15"],"prefix":"15","entire_prefix":"15","prefix_anchor":"15","level":1,"prior_prefix":"14","next_prefix":"16"},"15":{"id":288323,"text":"The City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison and Orange shall constitute the sixteenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["16"],"prefix":"16","entire_prefix":"16","prefix_anchor":"16","level":1,"prior_prefix":"15","next_prefix":"17"},"16":{"id":288324,"text":"The County of Arlington and the City of Falls Church shall constitute the seventeenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["17"],"prefix":"17","entire_prefix":"17","prefix_anchor":"17","level":1,"prior_prefix":"16","next_prefix":"18"},"17":{"id":288325,"text":"The City of Alexandria shall constitute the eighteenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["18"],"prefix":"18","entire_prefix":"18","prefix_anchor":"18","level":1,"prior_prefix":"17","next_prefix":"19"},"18":{"id":288326,"text":"The City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax shall constitute the nineteenth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["19"],"prefix":"19","entire_prefix":"19","prefix_anchor":"19","level":1,"prior_prefix":"18","next_prefix":"20"},"19":{"id":288327,"text":"The Counties of Fauquier, Loudoun and Rappahannock shall constitute the twentieth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["20"],"prefix":"20","entire_prefix":"20","prefix_anchor":"20","level":1,"prior_prefix":"19","next_prefix":"21"},"20":{"id":288328,"text":"The City of Martinsville and the Counties of Henry and Patrick shall constitute the twenty-first circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["21"],"prefix":"21","entire_prefix":"21","prefix_anchor":"21","level":1,"prior_prefix":"20","next_prefix":"22"},"21":{"id":288329,"text":"The City of Danville and the Counties of Franklin and Pittsylvania shall constitute the twenty-second circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["22"],"prefix":"22","entire_prefix":"22","prefix_anchor":"22","level":1,"prior_prefix":"21","next_prefix":"23"},"22":{"id":288330,"text":"The Cities of Roanoke and Salem and the County of Roanoke shall constitute the twenty-third circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["23"],"prefix":"23","entire_prefix":"23","prefix_anchor":"23","level":1,"prior_prefix":"22","next_prefix":"24"},"23":{"id":288331,"text":"The City of Lynchburg and the Counties of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and Nelson shall constitute the twenty-fourth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["24"],"prefix":"24","entire_prefix":"24","prefix_anchor":"24","level":1,"prior_prefix":"23","next_prefix":"25"},"24":{"id":288332,"text":"The Cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro and the Counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland and Rockbridge shall constitute the twenty-fifth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["25"],"prefix":"25","entire_prefix":"25","prefix_anchor":"25","level":1,"prior_prefix":"24","next_prefix":"26"},"25":{"id":288333,"text":"The Cities of Harrisonburg and Winchester and the Counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren shall constitute the twenty-sixth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["26"],"prefix":"26","entire_prefix":"26","prefix_anchor":"26","level":1,"prior_prefix":"25","next_prefix":"27"},"26":{"id":288334,"text":"The Cities of Galax and Radford and the Counties of Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe shall constitute the twenty-seventh circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["27"],"prefix":"27","entire_prefix":"27","prefix_anchor":"27","level":1,"prior_prefix":"26","next_prefix":"28"},"27":{"id":288335,"text":"The City of Bristol and the Counties of Smyth and Washington shall constitute the twenty-eighth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["28"],"prefix":"28","entire_prefix":"28","prefix_anchor":"28","level":1,"prior_prefix":"27","next_prefix":"29"},"28":{"id":288336,"text":"The Counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell shall constitute the twenty-ninth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["29"],"prefix":"29","entire_prefix":"29","prefix_anchor":"29","level":1,"prior_prefix":"28","next_prefix":"30"},"29":{"id":288337,"text":"The City of Norton and the Counties of Lee, Scott and Wise shall constitute the thirtieth circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["30"],"prefix":"30","entire_prefix":"30","prefix_anchor":"30","level":1,"prior_prefix":"29","next_prefix":"31"},"30":{"id":288338,"text":"The Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and the County of Prince William shall constitute the thirty-first circuit.","type":"section","prefixes":["31"],"prefix":"31","entire_prefix":"31","prefix_anchor":"31","level":1,"prior_prefix":"30"}},"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 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defendant","url":"\/17.1-514\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-514","metadata":false},{"id":81663,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515","catch_line":"Jurisdiction formerly in county courts","url":"\/17.1-515\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515","metadata":false},{"id":86475,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515.1","catch_line":"Territorial jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg","url":"\/17.1-515.1\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.1","metadata":false},{"id":70936,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-515.2\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.2","metadata":false},{"id":54255,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515.3","catch_line":"Designation of courtrooms within twenty-first and twenty-third circuits for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.3\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.3","metadata":false},{"id":67337,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515.4","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within sixteenth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.4\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.4","metadata":false},{"id":57670,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515.5","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.5\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.5","metadata":false},{"id":60839,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515.6","catch_line":"Concurrent law-enforcement jurisdiction over Joint Judicial Center in Winchester","url":"\/17.1-515.6\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.6","metadata":false},{"id":69717,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-515.7","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.7\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.7","metadata":false},{"id":54484,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-516","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters","url":"\/17.1-516\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-516","metadata":false},{"id":68752,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-517","catch_line":"Number of terms; 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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-506\/","history_text":"<p>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 10 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 1974, chapter 297; in 1976, chapter 126; in 1977, chapter 4; in 1983, chapter 149; in 1986, chapter 405; in 1987, chapter 624; in 1991, chapter 189; in 1998, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?981+ful+CHAP0872\">872<\/a>; in 2006, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?061+ful+CHAP0861\">861<\/a>; in 2016, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?161+ful+CHAP0164\">164<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?161+ful+CHAP0312\">312<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":55451,"section_number":"15.2-1637","catch_line":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1637\/"},{"id":78502,"section_number":"15.2-3822","catch_line":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3822\/"},{"id":81563,"section_number":"17.1-508","catch_line":"Judges in new or changed circuits; ratifying, validating and confirming certain actions","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-508\/"},{"id":56710,"section_number":"55.1-2401","catch_line":"Appointment of escheators","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2401\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":163723,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80487,"identifier":"17.1-506","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-506","url":"\/17.1-506\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-506\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-506","dublin_core":{"Title":"Judicial circuits","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-506","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> The City of Chesapeake shall constitute the first <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288308\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> The City of Virginia Beach and the Counties of Accomack and Northampton shall constitute the second <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288309\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> The City of Portsmouth shall constitute the third <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288310\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> The City of Norfolk shall constitute the fourth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288311\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"5\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">5.<\/span> The Cities of Franklin and Suffolk and the Counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton shall constitute the fifth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288312\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#5\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"6\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">6.<\/span> The Cities of Emporia and Hopewell and the Counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex shall constitute the sixth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288313\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#6\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"7\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">7.<\/span> The City of Newport News shall constitute the seventh <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288314\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#7\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"8\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">8.<\/span> The City of Hampton shall constitute the eighth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288315\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#8\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"9\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">9.<\/span> The Cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg and the Counties of Charles City, Gloucester, James City, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent and York shall constitute the ninth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288316\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#9\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"10\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">10.<\/span> The Counties of Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Prince Edward shall constitute the tenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288317\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#10\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"11\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">11.<\/span> The City of Petersburg and the Counties of Amelia, Dinwiddie, Nottoway and Powhatan shall constitute the eleventh <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288318\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#11\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"12\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">12.<\/span> The City of Colonial Heights and the County of Chesterfield shall constitute the twelfth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288319\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#12\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"13\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">13.<\/span> The City of Richmond shall constitute the thirteenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288320\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#13\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"14\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">14.<\/span> The County of Henrico shall constitute the fourteenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288321\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#14\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"15\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">15.<\/span> The City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Caroline, Essex, Hanover, King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland shall constitute the fifteenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288322\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#15\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"16\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">16.<\/span> The City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison and Orange shall constitute the sixteenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288323\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#16\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"17\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">17.<\/span> The County of Arlington and the City of Falls Church shall constitute the seventeenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288324\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#17\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"18\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">18.<\/span> The City of Alexandria shall constitute the eighteenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288325\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#18\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"19\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">19.<\/span> The City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax shall constitute the nineteenth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288326\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#19\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"20\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">20.<\/span> The Counties of Fauquier, Loudoun and Rappahannock shall constitute the twentieth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288327\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#20\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"21\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">21.<\/span> The City of Martinsville and the Counties of Henry and Patrick shall constitute the twenty-first <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288328\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#21\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"22\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">22.<\/span> The City of Danville and the Counties of Franklin and Pittsylvania shall constitute the twenty-second <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288329\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#22\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"23\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">23.<\/span> The Cities of Roanoke and Salem and the County of Roanoke shall constitute the twenty-third <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288330\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#23\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"24\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">24.<\/span> The City of Lynchburg and the Counties of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and Nelson shall constitute the twenty-fourth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288331\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#24\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"25\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">25.<\/span> The Cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro and the Counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland and Rockbridge shall constitute the twenty-fifth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288332\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#25\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"26\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">26.<\/span> The Cities of Harrisonburg and Winchester and the Counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren shall constitute the twenty-sixth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288333\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#26\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"27\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">27.<\/span> The Cities of Galax and Radford and the Counties of Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe shall constitute the twenty-seventh <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288334\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#27\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"28\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">28.<\/span> The City of Bristol and the Counties of Smyth and Washington shall constitute the twenty-eighth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288335\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#28\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"29\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">29.<\/span> The Counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell shall constitute the twenty-ninth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288336\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#29\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"30\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">30.<\/span> The City of Norton and the Counties of Lee, Scott and Wise shall constitute the thirtieth <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288337\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#30\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"31\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">31.<\/span> The Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and the County of Prince William shall constitute the thirty-first <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-288338\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/17.1-506\/#31\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nJUDICIAL CIRCUITS (\u00a7 17.1-506)\n\n1. The City of Chesapeake shall constitute the first circuit.\n\n2. The City of Virginia Beach and the Counties of Accomack and Northampton shall\nconstitute the second circuit.\n\n3. The City of Portsmouth shall constitute the third circuit.\n\n4. The City of Norfolk shall constitute the fourth circuit.\n\n5. The Cities of Franklin and Suffolk and the Counties of Isle of Wight and\nSouthampton shall constitute the fifth circuit.\n\n6. The Cities of Emporia and Hopewell and the Counties of Brunswick,\nGreensville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex shall constitute the sixth circuit.\n\n7. The City of Newport News shall constitute the seventh circuit.\n\n8. The City of Hampton shall constitute the eighth circuit.\n\n9. The Cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg and the Counties of Charles City,\nGloucester, James City, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, New\nKent and York shall constitute the ninth circuit.\n\n10. The Counties of Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax,\nLunenburg, Mecklenburg and Prince Edward shall constitute the tenth circuit.\n\n11. The City of Petersburg and the Counties of Amelia, Dinwiddie, Nottoway and\nPowhatan shall constitute the eleventh circuit.\n\n12. The City of Colonial Heights and the County of Chesterfield shall constitute\nthe twelfth circuit.\n\n13. The City of Richmond shall constitute the thirteenth circuit.\n\n14. The County of Henrico shall constitute the fourteenth circuit.\n\n15. The City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Caroline, Essex, Hanover,\nKing George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford and\nWestmoreland shall constitute the fifteenth circuit.\n\n16. The City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Culpeper,\nFluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison and Orange shall constitute the\nsixteenth circuit.\n\n17. The County of Arlington and the City of Falls Church shall constitute the\nseventeenth circuit.\n\n18. The City of Alexandria shall constitute the eighteenth circuit.\n\n19. The City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax shall constitute the\nnineteenth circuit.\n\n20. The Counties of Fauquier, Loudoun and Rappahannock shall constitute the\ntwentieth circuit.\n\n21. The City of Martinsville and the Counties of Henry and Patrick shall\nconstitute the twenty-first circuit.\n\n22. The City of Danville and the Counties of Franklin and Pittsylvania shall\nconstitute the twenty-second circuit.\n\n23. The Cities of Roanoke and Salem and the County of Roanoke shall constitute\nthe twenty-third circuit.\n\n24. The City of Lynchburg and the Counties of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and\nNelson shall constitute the twenty-fourth circuit.\n\n25. The Cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro and\nthe Counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland and\nRockbridge shall constitute the twenty-fifth circuit.\n\n26. The Cities of Harrisonburg and Winchester and the Counties of Clarke,\nFrederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren shall constitute the\ntwenty-sixth circuit.\n\n27. The Cities of Galax and Radford and the Counties of Bland, Carroll, Floyd,\nGiles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe shall constitute the\ntwenty-seventh circuit.\n\n28. The City of Bristol and the Counties of Smyth and Washington shall\nconstitute the twenty-eighth circuit.\n\n29. The Counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell shall constitute\nthe twenty-ninth circuit.\n\n30. The City of Norton and the Counties of Lee, Scott and Wise shall constitute\nthe thirtieth circuit.\n\n31. The Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and the County of Prince William\nshall constitute the thirty-first circuit.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 544, \u00a7 17-119.1:1; 1974, c. 297; 1976, c. 126; 1977, c. 4;\n1983, c. 149; 1986, c. 405; 1987, c. 624; 1991, c. 189; 1998, c. 872; 2006, c.\n861; 2016, cc. 164, 312.","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}}