{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-509.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-509.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-509.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-509.html"}],"law_id":76704,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76704,"structure_id":13258,"section_number":"17.1-509","catch_line":"Vacancies in office of judge","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 5889, \u00a7 17-120; 1920, p. 123; 1924, p. 310; 1944, p. 95; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 27; 1973, c. 544; 1977, c. 197; 1998, c. 872; 2001, c. 256; 2004, c. 452; 2018, c. 578.","full_text":"Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of judge, a successor, who shall be a resident of the same circuit, shall be elected for a full term of eight years and upon qualification shall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of his office. 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 \u00a7 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 \u00a7 2.2-3117 or 30-111, he shall also provide a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. Subject to the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 17.1-511 and 17.1-512, the Governor shall have the power while the General Assembly is not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in such office. Such appointment to every vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the end of 30 days after the commencement of the next regular session of the General Assembly. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a judge.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":275358,"text":"Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of judge, a successor, who shall be a resident of the same circuit, shall be elected for a full term of eight years and upon qualification shall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of his office. 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 \u00a7 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 \u00a7 2.2-3117 or 30-111, he shall also provide a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. Subject to the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 17.1-511 and 17.1-512, the Governor shall have the power while the General Assembly is not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in such office. Such appointment to every vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the end of 30 days after the commencement of the next regular session of the General Assembly. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed as a judge.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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; 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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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-509\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1973, chapter 544; in 1977, chapter 197; in 1998, chapter 872<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 256<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 452<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 578<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86070,"section_number":"17.1-511","catch_line":"Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-511\/"},{"id":63299,"section_number":"17.1-512","catch_line":"Election of successor judge before date of vacancy","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-512\/"},{"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":163735,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76704,"identifier":"17.1-509","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-509","url":"\/17.1-509\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-509\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-509","dublin_core":{"Title":"Vacancies in office of judge","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-509","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of judge<\/span>, a successor, who shall be a resident of the same circuit<\/span>, shall be elected for a full term of eight years and upon qualification shall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of his office. 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 \u00a7 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 \u00a7 2.2-3117<\/a> or 30-111<\/a>, he shall also provide a written statement of economic interests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117<\/a> to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts<\/span> of Justice. Subject to the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 17.1-511<\/a> and 17.1-512<\/a>, the Governor shall have the power while the General Assembly is not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in such office. Such appointment to every vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the end of 30 days after the commencement of the next regular session of the General Assembly. No person with a criminal conviction<\/span> for a felony<\/span> shall be appointed as a judge<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVACANCIES IN OFFICE OF JUDGE (\u00a7 17.1-509)\n\nWhenever a vacancy occurs in the office of judge, a successor, who shall be a\nresident of the same circuit, shall be elected for a full term of eight years\nand upon qualification shall enter at once upon the discharge of the duties of\nhis office. No person shall be elected or reelected to a subsequent term under\nthis section until he has submitted to a criminal history record search and\nsubmitted to a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to \u00a7\n63.2-1515 for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and reports of\nsuch searches have been received by the Chairmen of the House and Senate\nCommittees for Courts of Justice. If the person has not met the requirement of\nfiling in the preceding calendar year a disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7\n2.2-3117 or 30-111, he shall also provide a written statement of economic\ninterests on the disclosure form prescribed in \u00a7 2.2-3117 to the Chairmen of\nthe House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. Subject to the provisions\nof \u00a7\u00a7 17.1-511 and 17.1-512, the Governor shall have the power while the\nGeneral Assembly is not in session to fill pro tempore vacancies in such office.\nSuch appointment to every vacancy shall be by commission to expire at the end of\n30 days after the commencement of the next regular session of the General\nAssembly. No person with a criminal conviction for a felony shall be appointed\nas a judge.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 5889, \u00a7 17-120; 1920, p. 123; 1924, p. 310; 1944, p. 95;\n1971, Ex. Sess., c. 27; 1973, c. 544; 1977, c. 197; 1998, c. 872; 2001, c. 256;\n2004, 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}}