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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66613</law_id><section_number>17.1-107</section_number><catch_line>Designation of judge to assist regular judge holding case under advisement for unreasonable length of time</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="17.1">Courts of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In any <span class="dictionary">civil action</span>, a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> who fails to act on any matter, claim, <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, or <span class="dictionary">issue</span> that has been submitted to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> for a decision or render a final decision in the action shall report, in writing, to the parties or their <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> on any such matter, claim, <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, <span class="dictionary">issue</span>, or action held under advisement for more than 60 days after such submission stating an expected time of a decision. In any <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> in which a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> fails to report as required by this section or fails to render a decision within the expected time stated in the report, any <span class="dictionary">party</span> or their <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> may notify the Chief Justice of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span>. Whenever the Chief Justice of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span>, or any justice designated by him, has reasonable cause to believe that any <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record may be holding any matter, claim, <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, <span class="dictionary">issue</span>, or case under advisement for an unreasonable length of time, he shall inquire into the cause of such delay, and if he finds it necessary in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to expedite the administration of justice, he shall designate a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or retired <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record to assist the regular <span class="dictionary">judge</span> in the performance of his duties. <a id="paragraph-241692" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/17.1-107/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Complaints made hereunder shall be absolutely privileged and the name of the complainant shall not be disclosed without his consent. <a id="paragraph-241693" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/17.1-107/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1962, c. 285, &#xA7; 17-7.1; 1973, c. 544; 1998, c. 872; 2008, c. 813; 2014, c. 62.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
