                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CRIMINAL AND TRAFFIC JURISDICTION OF GENERAL DISTRICT COURTS (§ 16.1-123.1)

1. Each general district court shall have, within the county, including the
towns within such county, or city for which it is established, exclusive
original jurisdiction for the trial of:
			a. All offenses against the ordinances, laws and bylaws of such county,
including the towns within such county, or city or of any service district
within such county or city, except a city ordinance enacted pursuant to
&#xA7;&#xA7; 18.2-372 through 18.2-391.1. All offenses against the ordinances of
a service district shall be prosecuted in the name of such service district;
			b. All other misdemeanors and traffic infractions arising in such county,
including the towns in such county, or city.

2. Each general district court which is established within a city shall also
have:
			a. Concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court of such city for all
violations of state revenue and election laws; and
			b. Exclusive original jurisdiction, except as otherwise provided by general
law or the city charter, within the area extending for one mile beyond the
corporate limits thereof, for the trial of all offenses against the ordinances,
laws and bylaws of the city.

3. If a city lying within a county has no general district court provided by
city charter or under general law, then the general district court of the county
within which such city lies shall have the same jurisdiction in such city as a
general district court established for a city would have.

4. Each general district court shall have such other jurisdiction, exclusive or
concurrent, as may be conferred on such court by general law or by provisions of
the charter of the city for which the court was established.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection C of &#xA7; 19.2-244, any county
general district court authorized by &#xA7; 16.1-69.35:01 to be established in a
city shall have exclusive original jurisdiction for the trial of all
misdemeanors committed within or upon the general district court courtroom.

6. Upon certification by the general district court of any felony charge and
ancillary misdemeanor charge or when an appeal of a conviction of an offense in
general district court is noted, jurisdiction as to such charges shall vest in
the circuit court, unless such case is reopened pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-133.1; a
final judgment, order, or decree is modified, vacated, or suspended pursuant to
Supreme Court of Virginia Rule 1:1; or the appeal has been withdrawn in the
general district court within 10 days pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-133.

7. Nothing herein shall affect the jurisdiction conferred on the juvenile and
domestic relations district court by Chapter 11 (&#xA7; 16.1-226 et seq.).

HISTORY: 1984, c. 506; 2019, c. 240; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 187.