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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66074</law_id><section_number>19.2-257</section_number><catch_line>Trial without jury in felony cases</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-295.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="15">Trial and Its Incidents</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Arraignment; Pleas; Trial Without Jury</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon a <span class="dictionary">plea</span> of guilty in a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> case, tendered in person by the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> after being advised by <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall hear and determine the case without the intervention of a <span class="dictionary">jury</span>; or if the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> plead not guilty, with his consent after being advised by <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> and the concurrence of the attorney for the Commonwealth and of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> entered of record, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall hear and determine the case without the intervention of a <span class="dictionary">jury</span>. In such cases the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall have and exercise all the powers, <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> and duties given to juries by any <span class="dictionary">statute</span> relating to <span class="dictionary">crimes</span> and punishments.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-192; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
