<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65068</law_id><section_number>17.1-901</section_number><catch_line>Commission created; membership and terms of 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="17.1">Courts of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>There is created a Judicial Inquiry and Review <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> in the judiciary branch of government, composed of seven persons who shall be citizens and residents of the Commonwealth. The members of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall be chosen by the vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman annually from its membership.
		The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall consist of three judicial members, who shall be (i) one <span class="dictionary">active judge</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, (ii) one <span class="dictionary">active judge</span> of a general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> and (iii) one <span class="dictionary">active judge</span> of a juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">court</span>; two lawyer members, who shall be active members of the Virginia State Bar who are not <span class="dictionary">judges</span> and who have practiced <span class="dictionary">law</span> in the Commonwealth for 15 or more years immediately preceding their appointment; and two public members who shall not be active or retired <span class="dictionary">judges</span> and shall never have been licensed lawyers.
		After the initial appointments, the <span class="dictionary">term</span> of office of each member shall be four years commencing on July 1. No member of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive <span class="dictionary">terms</span>. The remainder of any <span class="dictionary">term</span> to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a <span class="dictionary">term</span> in determining the member&#x2019;s eligibility for reappointment.
		<span class="dictionary">Commission</span> membership terminates whenever a member resigns or ceases to possess the qualifications that made him eligible for appointment. During any vacancy, which may exist while the General Assembly is not in session, the Governor may appoint a successor to serve until 30 days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly. Upon election of a successor by the General Assembly, the new member of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall serve for the remainder of the <span class="dictionary">term</span> of office of his predecessor.
		Any member of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> who is the subject of an investigation or <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> by it or is otherwise personally involved therein shall be disqualified by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> from acting in such proceedings. In such a case the Governor shall appoint a person possessing the original qualifications of such member as prescribed by this section to serve temporarily as a substitute member of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> in such proceedings.</p></section></text><history>1971, Ex. Sess., c. 154, &#xA7; 2.1-37.3; 1978, c. 452; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 1000.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
