                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

WHEN SUBSTITUTE TO SERVE; HIS POWERS AND DUTIES (§ 16.1-69.21)

In the event of the inability of the judge to perform the duties of his office
or any of them by reason of sickness, absence, vacation, interest in the
proceeding or parties before the court, or otherwise, such judge or a person
acting on his behalf shall promptly notify the appropriate chief district judge
of such inability. If the chief district judge determines that the provisions of
§ 16.1-69.35 have been complied with or cannot reasonably be done within the
time permitted and that no other full-time or retired judge is reasonably
available to serve, the chief district judge may direct a substitute judge to
serve as a judge of the court, which substitute may serve concurrently with one
or more of the judges of the court or alone. When reasonably necessary, the
chief district judge may designate a substitute judge from another district
within the Commonwealth. The committee on district courts may adopt policies and
procedures governing the utilization of substitute judges. In such event, those
policies and procedures will, where applicable, control. While acting as judge,
a substitute judge shall perform the same duties, exercise the same power and
authority, and be subject to the same obligations as prescribed herein for the
judge. A substitute judge shall retain the power to enter a final order in any
case heard by such substitute judge for a period of 14 days after the date of a
hearing of such case. While serving as judge of the court, the judge or the
substitute judge may perform all acts with respect to the proceedings, judgments
and acts of any other judge in connection with any action or proceeding then
pending or theretofore disposed of in the court except as otherwise provided in
this chapter in the same manner and with the same force and effect as if they
were his own.

HISTORY: 1972, c. 708; 1973, c. 546; 1983, c. 128; 1984, c. 570; 2017, c. 650;
2020, c. 118.