<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86003</law_id><section_number>16.1-69.17:1</section_number><catch_line>Time within which a judge may qualify; failure to do so vacates office</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="4.1">District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Districts; District Courts and Judges</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any district <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of this Commonwealth may qualify at any time after receiving his commission and before the expiration of thirty days after the commencement of his term of office; but if he fails to receive his commission until after the commencement of his term of office, he may qualify within thirty days from the date of receiving such commission. If a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> fails to qualify as above provided, his office shall be deemed to be vacant.</p></section></text><history>1976, c. 374.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
