{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-238.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-238.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-238.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-238.html"}],"law_id":79620,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79620,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-238","catch_line":"Costs","history":"1975, cc. 515, 595, \u00a7 24.1-79.10; 1993, c. 641; 2009, cc. 868, 876; 2023, cc. 663, 664.","full_text":"A\n\nIf a judicial proceeding under this article is dismissed in favor of the officer, the court in its discretion may require the state agency or political subdivision that the officer serves to pay court costs or reasonable attorney fees, or both, for the officer.B\n\nNo person who signs a petition for the removal of an official pursuant to § 24.2-233 or who circulates such a petition (i) shall be liable for any costs associated with removal proceedings conducted pursuant to the petition, including attorney fees incurred by any other party or court costs, or (ii) shall have sanctions imposed against him pursuant to § 8.01-271.1.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":285296,"text":"If a judicial proceeding under this article is dismissed in favor of the officer, the court in its discretion may require the state agency or political subdivision that the officer serves to pay court costs or reasonable attorney fees, or both, for the officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":285297,"text":"No person who signs a petition for the removal of an official pursuant to § 24.2-233 or who circulates such a petition (i) shall be liable for any costs associated with removal proceedings conducted pursuant to the petition, including attorney fees incurred by any other party or court costs, or (ii) shall have sanctions imposed against him pursuant to § 8.01-271.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16091,"edition_id":1,"name":"Removal of Public Officers from Office","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14248,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:05:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:05:34","permalink":{"id":187591,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16091,"identifier":"7","token":"24.2\/2\/7","url":"\/24.2\/2\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14248,"edition_id":1,"name":"Federal, Commonwealth, and Local Officers","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:26","permalink":{"id":187457,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14248,"identifier":"2","token":"24.2\/2","url":"\/24.2\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12937,"edition_id":1,"name":"Elections","identifier":"24.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":187149,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12937,"identifier":"24.2","token":"24.2","url":"\/24.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63359,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-230","catch_line":"Applicability of article; certain exceptions","url":"\/24.2-230\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-230","metadata":false},{"id":64861,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-231","catch_line":"Forfeiture of office by person sentenced for commission of certain crimes","url":"\/24.2-231\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-231","metadata":false},{"id":66137,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-232","catch_line":"Vacancy occurring when officer determined \"mentally incompetent\" (incapacitated)","url":"\/24.2-232\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-232","metadata":false},{"id":69635,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-233","catch_line":"Removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts","url":"\/24.2-233\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-233","metadata":false},{"id":76619,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-234","catch_line":"Removal of officer appointed for a term certain","url":"\/24.2-234\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-234","metadata":false},{"id":85062,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-234.1","catch_line":"Removal of members of local electoral boards and general registrars","url":"\/24.2-234.1\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-234.1","metadata":false},{"id":68375,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-235","catch_line":"Procedure","url":"\/24.2-235\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-235","metadata":false},{"id":64623,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-236","catch_line":"Suspension from office pending hearing and appeal","url":"\/24.2-236\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-236","metadata":false},{"id":73281,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-237","catch_line":"Who to represent Commonwealth; trial by jury; appeal","url":"\/24.2-237\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-237","metadata":false},{"id":79620,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-238","catch_line":"Costs","url":"\/24.2-238\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-238","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73281,"structure_id":16091,"section_number":"24.2-237","catch_line":"Who to represent Commonwealth; trial by jury; appeal","url":"\/24.2-237\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-237","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-238\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 515 and 595 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 1975 \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 1993, chapter 641; in 2009, chapters 868<\/a> and 876<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 663<\/a> and 664<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58363,"section_number":"15.2-1503","catch_line":"Tenure of officers and employees; suspension or removal","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1503\/"},{"id":81208,"section_number":"15.2-1547","catch_line":"Creation of local finance boards to manage the assets of postemployment benefits trust or equivalent arrangement; composition of such boards; alternatives to such boards; liability; and removal from office","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1547\/"},{"id":58346,"section_number":"16.1-69.22","catch_line":"Removal of judges and substitute judges","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.22\/"},{"id":79996,"section_number":"51.1-124.20","catch_line":"Board of Trustees; membership; terms; quorum; compensation and expenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.20\/"},{"id":69589,"section_number":"58.1-3164","catch_line":"Institution of proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3164\/"},{"id":59166,"section_number":"58.1-3166","catch_line":"Substitute officer continues in office upon removal of predecessor","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3166\/"},{"id":73556,"section_number":"58.1-3168","catch_line":"When treasurers to pay state revenue into state treasury","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3168\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":69635,"section_number":"24.2-233","catch_line":"Removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-233\/"},{"id":85673,"section_number":"8.01-271.1","catch_line":"Signing of pleadings, motions, and other papers; oral motions; sanctions","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-271.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":187629,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79620,"identifier":"24.2-238","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-238","url":"\/24.2-238\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-238\/","token":"24.2\/2\/7\/24.2-238","dublin_core":{"Title":"Costs","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-238","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If a judicial proceeding under this article is dismissed in favor of the officer, the court<\/span> in its discretion may require the state agency or political subdivision that the officer serves to pay court<\/span> costs or reasonable attorney fees, or both, for the officer. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No person who signs a petition<\/span> for the removal of an official pursuant to § 24.2-233<\/a> or who circulates such a petition<\/span> (i) shall be liable for any costs associated with removal proceedings conducted pursuant to the petition<\/span>, including attorney fees incurred by any other party<\/span> or court<\/span> costs, or (ii) shall have sanctions<\/span> imposed against him pursuant to § 8.01-271.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOSTS (\u00a7 24.2-238)\n\nA. If a judicial proceeding under this article is dismissed in favor of the\nofficer, the court in its discretion may require the state agency or political\nsubdivision that the officer serves to pay court costs or reasonable attorney\nfees, or both, for the officer.\n\nB. No person who signs a petition for the removal of an official pursuant to\n§ 24.2-233 or who circulates such a petition (i) shall be liable for any\ncosts associated with removal proceedings conducted pursuant to the petition,\nincluding attorney fees incurred by any other party or court costs, or (ii)\nshall have sanctions imposed against him pursuant to § 8.01-271.1.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, cc. 515, 595, \u00a7 24.1-79.10; 1993, c. 641; 2009, cc. 868, 876;\n2023, cc. 663, 664.","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}}