<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85805</law_id><section_number>16.1-123.1</section_number><catch_line>Criminal and traffic jurisdiction of general district courts</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Jurisdiction and Procedure in Criminal Matters</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Jurisdiction in Criminal Matters</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Each general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall have, within the county, including the towns within such county, or city for which it is established, exclusive <span class="dictionary">original jurisdiction</span> for the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of:
			a. All <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> against the <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span>, <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and bylaws of such county, including the towns within such county, or city or of any service district within such county or city, except a city <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> enacted pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="&quot;Obscene&quot; defined" href="/18.2-372/">18.2-372</a> through <a class="law" title="Exceptions to application of article" href="/18.2-391.1/">18.2-391.1</a>. All <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> against the <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> of a service district shall be prosecuted in the name of such service district;
			b. All other <span class="dictionary">misdemeanors</span> and traffic infractions arising in such county, including the towns in such county, or city. <a id="paragraph-307278" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-123.1/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Each general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> which is established within a city shall also have:
			a. Concurrent jurisdiction with the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of such city for all violations of state revenue and election <span class="dictionary">laws</span>; and
			b. Exclusive <span class="dictionary">original jurisdiction</span>, except as otherwise provided by general <span class="dictionary">law</span> or the city charter, within the area extending for one mile beyond the corporate limits thereof, for the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of all <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> against the <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span>, <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and bylaws of the city. <a id="paragraph-307279" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-123.1/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If a city lying within a county has no general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> provided by city charter or under general <span class="dictionary">law</span>, then the general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county within which such city lies shall have the same jurisdiction in such city as a general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> established for a city would have. <a id="paragraph-307280" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-123.1/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Each general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall have such other jurisdiction, exclusive or concurrent, as may be conferred on such <span class="dictionary">court</span> by general <span class="dictionary">law</span> or by provisions of the charter of the city for which the <span class="dictionary">court</span> was established. <a id="paragraph-307281" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-123.1/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Venue in general" href="/19.2-244/">19.2-244</a>, any county general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> authorized by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Location of district courts for Albemarle County" href="/16.1-69.35_01/">16.1-69.35:01</a> to be established in a city shall have exclusive <span class="dictionary">original jurisdiction</span> for the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of all <span class="dictionary">misdemeanors</span> committed within or upon the general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> courtroom. <a id="paragraph-307282" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-123.1/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Upon certification by the general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> of any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> charge and ancillary <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> charge or when an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> in general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> is noted, jurisdiction as to such charges shall vest in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, unless such case is reopened pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reopening case after conviction" href="/16.1-133.1/">16.1-133.1</a>; a final <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or <span class="dictionary">decree</span> is modified, vacated, or suspended pursuant to Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia Rule 1:1; or the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> has been withdrawn in the general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> within 10 days pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Withdrawal of appeal" href="/16.1-133/">16.1-133</a>. <a id="paragraph-307283" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-123.1/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Nothing herein shall affect the jurisdiction conferred on the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span> by Chapter 11 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/16.1-226/">16.1-226</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-307284" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-123.1/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 506; 2019, c. 240; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 187.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
