{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-913.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-913.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-913.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-913.html"}],"law_id":63579,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63579,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-913","catch_line":"Confidentiality of papers and proceedings; exception","history":"1971, Ex. Sess., c. 154, \u00a7 2.1-37.13; 1979, c. 11; 1984, c. 650; 1993, c. 92; 2001, c. 844; 2005, c. 508; 2023, c. 329.","full_text":"A\n\nExcept as provided in subsection C, all papers filed with and proceedings before the Commission, and under §§ 17.1-909 and 17.1-910, including the identification of the subject judge as well as all testimony and other evidence and any transcript thereof made by a reporter, shall be confidential and shall not be divulged, other than to the Commission, by any person who (i) either files a complaint with the Commission, or receives such complaint in an official capacity; (ii) investigates such complaint; (iii) is interviewed concerning such complaint by a member, employee or agent of the Commission; or (iv) participates in any proceeding of the Commission or in the official recording or transcription thereof, except that the record of any proceeding filed with the Supreme Court shall lose its confidential character. However, if the Commission finds cause to believe that any witness under oath has willfully and intentionally testified falsely, the Commission may direct the chairman or one of its members to report such finding and the details leading thereto including any transcript thereof to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the city or county where such act occurred for such disposition as to a charge of perjury as the Commonwealth may be advised. In any subsequent prosecution for perjury based thereon, the proceedings before the Commission relevant thereto shall lose their confidential character.\n\t\t\tAll records of proceedings before the Commission which are not filed with the Supreme Court in connection with a formal complaint filed with that tribunal, shall be kept in the confidential files of the Commission.\n\t\t\tHowever, a judge who is under investigation by the Commission, or any person authorized by him, may divulge information pertaining to a complaint filed against such judge as may be necessary for the judge to investigate the allegations in the complaint in preparation for the proceedings before the Commission.B\n\nAdvice on judicial ethics given by an attorney employed by the Commission to a judge and the records of such advice shall be confidential and not be divulged except as permitted in subsection A. However, the Commission may share such advice, but not the identity of the judge to whom the advice was given, with a committee established by the Supreme Court for the development of formal judicial ethics advisory opinions. Any such shared information shall remain confidential within such committee.C\n\nThe Commission shall notify a complainant of the final decision made or action taken in regards to his filed complaint within 30 days of such decision or action. Such notice shall include the decision made or action taken by the Commission. The confidentiality provisions of subsection A shall not apply to notifications made by the Commission under this subsection.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":231628,"text":"Except as provided in subsection C, all papers filed with and proceedings before the Commission, and under §§ 17.1-909 and 17.1-910, including the identification of the subject judge as well as all testimony and other evidence and any transcript thereof made by a reporter, shall be confidential and shall not be divulged, other than to the Commission, by any person who (i) either files a complaint with the Commission, or receives such complaint in an official capacity; (ii) investigates such complaint; (iii) is interviewed concerning such complaint by a member, employee or agent of the Commission; or (iv) participates in any proceeding of the Commission or in the official recording or transcription thereof, except that the record of any proceeding filed with the Supreme Court shall lose its confidential character. However, if the Commission finds cause to believe that any witness under oath has willfully and intentionally testified falsely, the Commission may direct the chairman or one of its members to report such finding and the details leading thereto including any transcript thereof to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the city or county where such act occurred for such disposition as to a charge of perjury as the Commonwealth may be advised. In any subsequent prosecution for perjury based thereon, the proceedings before the Commission relevant thereto shall lose their confidential character.\n\t\t\tAll records of proceedings before the Commission which are not filed with the Supreme Court in connection with a formal complaint filed with that tribunal, shall be kept in the confidential files of the Commission.\n\t\t\tHowever, a judge who is under investigation by the Commission, or any person authorized by him, may divulge information pertaining to a complaint filed against such judge as may be necessary for the judge to investigate the allegations in the complaint in preparation for the proceedings before the Commission.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":231629,"text":"Advice on judicial ethics given by an attorney employed by the Commission to a judge and the records of such advice shall be confidential and not be divulged except as permitted in subsection A. However, the Commission may share such advice, but not the identity of the judge to whom the advice was given, with a committee established by the Supreme Court for the development of formal judicial ethics advisory opinions. Any such shared information shall remain confidential within such committee.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":231630,"text":"The Commission shall notify a complainant of the final decision made or action taken in regards to his filed complaint within 30 days of such decision or action. Such notice shall include the decision made or action taken by the Commission. The confidentiality provisions of subsection A shall not apply to notifications made by the Commission under this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14505,"edition_id":1,"name":"Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12766,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:24","permalink":{"id":164057,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14505,"identifier":"9","token":"17.1\/9","url":"\/17.1\/9\/","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":82661,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-900","catch_line":"Definitions and application of chapter","url":"\/17.1-900\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-900","metadata":false},{"id":65068,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-901","catch_line":"Commission created; membership and terms of office","url":"\/17.1-901\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-901","metadata":false},{"id":56091,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-902","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Commission generally","url":"\/17.1-902\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-902","metadata":false},{"id":60592,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-903","catch_line":"Officers and employees; experts and reporters; witnesses; legal counsel","url":"\/17.1-903\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-903","metadata":false},{"id":83761,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-904","catch_line":"Compensation and expenses","url":"\/17.1-904\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-904","metadata":false},{"id":55921,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-905","catch_line":"Annual report","url":"\/17.1-905\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-905","metadata":false},{"id":82186,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-906","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of Supreme Court","url":"\/17.1-906\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-906","metadata":false},{"id":60223,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-907","catch_line":"Oaths; inspection of books and records; subpoenas","url":"\/17.1-907\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-907","metadata":false},{"id":59249,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-908","catch_line":"Scope of process","url":"\/17.1-908\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-908","metadata":false},{"id":65622,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-909","catch_line":"Order compelling witness to attend and testify","url":"\/17.1-909\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-909","metadata":false},{"id":63111,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-910","catch_line":"Depositions","url":"\/17.1-910\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-910","metadata":false},{"id":66181,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-911","catch_line":"Suspension of judge","url":"\/17.1-911\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-911","metadata":false},{"id":59121,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-912","catch_line":"Physical or mental examination","url":"\/17.1-912\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-912","metadata":false},{"id":63579,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-913","catch_line":"Confidentiality of papers and proceedings; exception","url":"\/17.1-913\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-913","metadata":false},{"id":74632,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-914","catch_line":"Privilege","url":"\/17.1-914\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-914","metadata":false},{"id":72144,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-915","catch_line":"Witness fees; mileage; exception","url":"\/17.1-915\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-915","metadata":false},{"id":68931,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-916","catch_line":"Costs","url":"\/17.1-916\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-916","metadata":false},{"id":82215,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-917","catch_line":"Assistance and information; complaint forms","url":"\/17.1-917\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-917","metadata":false},{"id":58602,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-918","catch_line":"Transmission of certain information to Virginia State Bar, House Committee for Courts of Justice, Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, and other members of the General Assembly","url":"\/17.1-918\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-918","metadata":false},{"id":82591,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-919","catch_line":"Service of process; execution of orders","url":"\/17.1-919\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-919","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59121,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-912","catch_line":"Physical or mental examination","url":"\/17.1-912\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-912","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74632,"structure_id":14505,"section_number":"17.1-914","catch_line":"Privilege","url":"\/17.1-914\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-914","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-913\/","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 1979, chapter 11; in 1984, chapter 650; in 1993, chapter 92; in 2001, chapter 844<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 508<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 329<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":65622,"section_number":"17.1-909","catch_line":"Order compelling witness to attend and testify","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-909\/"},{"id":63111,"section_number":"17.1-910","catch_line":"Depositions","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-910\/"}],"permalink":{"id":164111,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63579,"identifier":"17.1-913","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-913","url":"\/17.1-913\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-913\/","token":"17.1\/9\/17.1-913","dublin_core":{"Title":"Confidentiality of papers and proceedings; exception","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-913","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Except as provided in subsection C, all papers filed with and proceedings before the Commission<\/span>, and under §§ 17.1-909<\/a> and 17.1-910<\/a>, including the identification of the subject judge<\/span> as well as all testimony<\/span> and other evidence<\/span> and any transcript<\/span> thereof made by a reporter, shall be confidential and shall not be divulged, other than to the Commission<\/span>, by any person who (i) either files a complaint with the Commission<\/span>, or receives such complaint in an official capacity; (ii) investigates such complaint; (iii) is interviewed concerning such complaint by a member, employee or agent of the Commission<\/span>; or (iv) participates in any proceeding of the Commission<\/span> or in the official recording or transcription thereof, except that the record of any proceeding filed with the Supreme Court<\/span> shall lose its confidential character. However, if the Commission<\/span> finds cause to believe that any witness<\/span> under oath<\/span> has willfully and intentionally testified falsely, the Commission<\/span> may direct the chairman or one of its members to report such finding<\/span> and the details leading thereto including any transcript<\/span> thereof to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the city or county where such act occurred for such disposition<\/span> as to a charge of perjury<\/span> as the Commonwealth may be advised. In any subsequent prosecution<\/span> for perjury<\/span> based thereon, the proceedings before the Commission<\/span> relevant thereto shall lose their confidential character.\n\t\t\tAll records of proceedings before the Commission<\/span> which are not filed with the Supreme Court<\/span> in connection with a formal complaint filed with that tribunal, shall be kept in the confidential files of the Commission<\/span>.\n\t\t\tHowever, a judge<\/span> who is under investigation by the Commission<\/span>, or any person authorized by him, may divulge information pertaining to a complaint filed against such judge<\/span> as may be necessary for the judge<\/span> to investigate the allegations<\/span> in the complaint in preparation for the proceedings before the Commission<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Advice on judicial ethics given by an attorney employed by the Commission<\/span> to a judge<\/span> and the records of such advice shall be confidential and not be divulged except as permitted in subsection A. However, the Commission<\/span> may share such advice, but not the identity of the judge<\/span> to whom the advice was given, with a committee established by the Supreme Court<\/span> for the development of formal judicial ethics advisory opinions<\/span>. Any such shared information shall remain confidential within such committee. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Commission<\/span> shall notify a complainant of the final decision made or action taken in regards to his filed complaint within 30 days of such decision or action. Such notice shall include the decision made or action taken by the Commission<\/span>. The confidentiality provisions of subsection A shall not apply to notifications made by the Commission<\/span> under this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONFIDENTIALITY OF PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS; EXCEPTION (\u00a7 17.1-913)\n\nA. Except as provided in subsection C, all papers filed with and proceedings\nbefore the Commission, and under §§ 17.1-909 and 17.1-910, including\nthe identification of the subject judge as well as all testimony and other\nevidence and any transcript thereof made by a reporter, shall be confidential\nand shall not be divulged, other than to the Commission, by any person who (i)\neither files a complaint with the Commission, or receives such complaint in an\nofficial capacity; (ii) investigates such complaint; (iii) is interviewed\nconcerning such complaint by a member, employee or agent of the Commission; or\n(iv) participates in any proceeding of the Commission or in the official\nrecording or transcription thereof, except that the record of any proceeding\nfiled with the Supreme Court shall lose its confidential character. However, if\nthe Commission finds cause to believe that any witness under oath has willfully\nand intentionally testified falsely, the Commission may direct the chairman or\none of its members to report such finding and the details leading thereto\nincluding any transcript thereof to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the\ncity or county where such act occurred for such disposition as to a charge of\nperjury as the Commonwealth may be advised. In any subsequent prosecution for\nperjury based thereon, the proceedings before the Commission relevant thereto\nshall lose their confidential character.\n\t\t\tAll records of proceedings before the Commission which are not filed with the\nSupreme Court in connection with a formal complaint filed with that tribunal,\nshall be kept in the confidential files of the Commission.\n\t\t\tHowever, a judge who is under investigation by the Commission, or any person\nauthorized by him, may divulge information pertaining to a complaint filed\nagainst such judge as may be necessary for the judge to investigate the\nallegations in the complaint in preparation for the proceedings before the\nCommission.\n\nB. Advice on judicial ethics given by an attorney employed by the Commission to\na judge and the records of such advice shall be confidential and not be divulged\nexcept as permitted in subsection A. However, the Commission may share such\nadvice, but not the identity of the judge to whom the advice was given, with a\ncommittee established by the Supreme Court for the development of formal\njudicial ethics advisory opinions. Any such shared information shall remain\nconfidential within such committee.\n\nC. The Commission shall notify a complainant of the final decision made or\naction taken in regards to his filed complaint within 30 days of such decision\nor action. Such notice shall include the decision made or action taken by the\nCommission. The confidentiality provisions of subsection A shall not apply to\nnotifications made by the Commission under this subsection.\n\nHISTORY: 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 154, \u00a7 2.1-37.13; 1979, c. 11; 1984, c. 650; 1993,\nc. 92; 2001, c. 844; 2005, c. 508; 2023, c. 329.","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}}