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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70349</law_id><section_number>19.2-404</section_number><catch_line>Procedures on awarded pretrial appeal</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="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="25">Appeals by the Commonwealth</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>This section applies only to pretrial <span class="dictionary">appeals</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> grants the Commonwealth&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for a pretrial <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall represent the Commonwealth during that <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>.
		The Commonwealth shall file its opening <span class="dictionary">brief</span> in the office of the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> within 25 days after the date of the certificate awarding the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>. The <span class="dictionary">brief</span> of the <span class="dictionary">appellee</span> shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> within 25 days after the filing of the Commonwealth&#x2019;s opening <span class="dictionary">brief</span>. The Commonwealth may then file a reply <span class="dictionary">brief</span>, including its response to any cross <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>, in the office of the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> within 15 days after the filing of the <span class="dictionary">brief</span> of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>. With the permission of a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span>, the time for filing any <span class="dictionary">brief</span> may be extended for good cause shown. Except as specifically provided in this section, all other requirements of the <span class="dictionary">brief</span> shall conform as nearly as practicable to Part Five A of the Rules of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia. The <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> shall accelerate the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> on its <span class="dictionary">docket</span> and render its decision not later than 60 days after the filing of the <span class="dictionary">appellee</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">brief</span> or after the time for filing such <span class="dictionary">brief</span> has expired.
		When the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> is rendered by the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span>, the <span class="dictionary">mandate</span> shall immediately <span class="dictionary">issue</span> and the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> shall return the record forthwith to the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>. No <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for rehearing may be filed.</p></section></text><history>1987, c. 710; 2003, c. 109; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489; 2023, cc. 314, 315.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
