Article 1 Establishment; Jurisdiction; Etc

This article is comprised of the following sections:
  • §17.1-500 Establishment of circuit courts
  • §17.1-501 Judges of circuit courts; selection, powers and duties of chief judges; exercise of appointive powers
  • §17.1-502 (Effective July 1, 2026) Administrator of circuit court system
  • §17.1-503 Rules of practice and procedure; rules not to preclude judges from hearing certain cases
  • §17.1-504 Reserved
  • §17.1-505 Circuit court of county to constitute circuit court of certain cities
  • §17.1-506 Judicial circuits
  • §17.1-507 Maximum number of judges; residence requirement; compensation; powers; etc
  • §17.1-508 Judges in new or changed circuits; ratifying, validating and confirming certain actions
  • §17.1-509 Vacancies in office of judge
  • §17.1-510 Election of judge of new circuit; how court held meanwhile
  • §17.1-511 Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled
  • §17.1-512 Election of successor judge before date of vacancy
  • §17.1-513 Jurisdiction of circuit courts
  • §17.1-513.01 Jurisdiction of circuit courts with respect to charitable assets
  • §17.1-513.1 Appeals from administrative proceedings; abuse and neglect; record to be sealed
  • §17.1-513.2 Use of telephonic communication systems or electronic video and audio communication systems to conduct hearing
  • §17.1-514 When plaintiff entitled to less than $100; judgment for defendant
  • §17.1-515 Jurisdiction formerly in county courts
  • §17.1-515.1 Territorial jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg
  • §17.1-515.2 Repealed
  • §17.1-515.3 Designation of courtrooms within twenty-first and twenty-third circuits for trial of certain cases
  • §17.1-515.4 Designation of certain courtrooms within sixteenth circuit for trial of certain cases
  • §17.1-515.5 Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases
  • §17.1-515.6 Concurrent law-enforcement jurisdiction over Joint Judicial Center in Winchester
  • §17.1-515.7 Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases
  • §17.1-516 Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters
  • §17.1-517 Number of terms; how fixed
  • §17.1-518 Special terms; when, how and by whom appointed
  • §17.1-519 Adjournment thereof to a future day
  • §17.1-520 What tried at a special term
  • §17.1-521 Who to hold special term; powers
  • §17.1-522 Adjournment of special term
  • §17.1-523 Salaries of judges of circuit courts
  • §17.1-524 Repealed
  • §17.1-525 Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty