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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85081</law_id><section_number>15.2-3000</section_number><catch_line>Special court to hear certain cases</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-3001</reference><reference>15.2-3002</reference><reference>15.2-3109</reference><reference>15.2-3202</reference><reference>15.2-3235</reference><reference>15.2-3237</reference><reference>15.2-3241</reference><reference>15.2-3304</reference><reference>15.2-3400</reference><reference>15.2-3522</reference><reference>15.2-3600</reference><reference>15.2-3800</reference><reference>15.2-3901</reference><reference>15.2-4002</reference><reference>15.2-4101</reference><reference>15.2-4120</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="30">Special Courts</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Notwithstanding any contrary provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, whenever any matter provided for in Chapters 32 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Boundaries of cities and towns to remain as established until changed" href="/15.2-3200/">15.2-3200</a> et seq.), 33 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Purposes of chapter" href="/15.2-3300/">15.2-3300</a> et seq.), 34 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Voluntary settlements among local governments" href="/15.2-3400/">15.2-3400</a> et seq.), 35 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Application of article" href="/15.2-3500/">15.2-3500</a> et seq.), 36 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Petition for incorporation of community; appointment of special court" href="/15.2-3600/">15.2-3600</a> et seq.), 38 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court" href="/15.2-3800/">15.2-3800</a> et seq.), 39, (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Transition authorized" href="/15.2-3900/">15.2-3900</a> et seq.), 40 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Enjoyment of city status until requirements of chapter fulfilled" href="/15.2-4000/">15.2-4000</a> et seq.) and 41 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="City may change to town status" href="/15.2-4100/">15.2-4100</a> et seq.) of this title, is required to be decided by a <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, unless a different <span class="dictionary">intent</span> appears from the context, shall be composed of three <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">judges</span> appointed by the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia. Such special <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall sit without a <span class="dictionary">jury</span>. The three <span class="dictionary">judges</span> shall be chosen from a <span class="dictionary">panel</span> of fifteen <span class="dictionary">judges</span> selected to hear such matters by the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span>. Such <span class="dictionary">judges</span> shall remain on the <span class="dictionary">panel</span> for a period of time determined by the Chief Justice of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> unless otherwise provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. When any <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or other matter required by the above-stated chapters to be decided by the special <span class="dictionary">court</span> is filed in a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the chief <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">judge</span> shall certify the filing to the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> and request the appointment of three members from the <span class="dictionary">panel</span> to hear the matter. No <span class="dictionary">judge</span> may be appointed to hear a matter involving <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> in his own <span class="dictionary">circuit</span>.</p></section></text><history>1979, c. 85, &#xA7; 15.1-1168; 1983, c. 523; 1985, c. 66; 1988, c. 881; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
