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1994 SESSION


CHAPTER 89
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-69.6:1 and 17-119.1:2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the number of circuit and district court judges.
[S 71]
Approved March 12, 1994

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 16.1-69.6:1 and 17-119.1:2 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 16.1-69.6:1. Number of judges.

For the several judicial districts there shall be full-time general district court judges and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges, the number as hereinafter set forth, who shall during their service reside within their respective districts, except as provided in § 16.1-69.16, and whose compensation and powers shall be the same as now and hereafter prescribed for general district court judges and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges.

The number of judges of the districts shall be as follows: 

                                            Juvenile and Domestic

                 General District Court       Relations District

                          Judges                  Court Judges

First                       3                         2

Second                      6                         5

Two-A           The General and Juvenile

                 and Domestic Relations

                    District Court 1                  1

Third                       3                         2

Fourth                      6                         4

Fifth                       2                         2

Sixth                       3                         2

Seventh                     3                         3

Eighth                      3                         2

Ninth                       3                         2

Tenth                       3                         2

Eleventh                    2                         2

Twelfth                     3 4                       3

Thirteenth                  8                         4

Fourteenth                  4                       2 3

Fifteenth                   5                         4

Sixteenth                   4                         3

Seventeenth                 3                         2

Eighteenth                  2                       1 2

Nineteenth                 10                         6

Twentieth                   3                         2

Twenty-first                2                         2

Twenty-second               2                       2 3

Twenty-third                5                       3 4

Twenty-fourth               4                       3 4

Twenty-fifth                5                         3

The general district court judges of the twenty-fifth district shall render assistance on a regular basis to the general district court judges of the twenty-sixth district by appropriate designation. 

Twenty-sixth                4                       2 3

Twenty-seventh              4                         3

Twenty-eighth               2                         2

Twenty-ninth                3                         2

Thirtieth                   2                         2

Thirty-first                4                         4

The election or appointment of any district judge shall be subject to the provisions of § 16.1-69.9:3.

§ 17-119.1:2. Number of judges; residence requirement; compensation; powers; etc.

A. For the several judicial circuits there shall be judges, the number as hereinafter set forth, who shall during their service reside within their respective circuits and whose compensation and powers shall be the same as now and hereafter prescribed for circuit judges. The judges in office when this shall take effect shall continue in office for the term for which elected or appointed.

The number of judges of the circuits shall be as follows:

First - 3

Second - 10

Third - 4

Fourth - 9

Fifth - 3

Sixth - 2

Seventh - 4

Eighth - 3

Ninth - 4

Tenth - 3

Eleventh - 3

Twelfth - 4

Thirteenth - 8

Fourteenth - 4

Fifteenth - 5

Sixteenth - 4 5

Seventeenth - 4

Eighteenth - 3

Nineteenth - 15

Twentieth - 3

Twenty-first - 2

Twenty-second - 3

Twenty-third - 5 6

Twenty-fourth - 5

Twenty-fifth - 4

Twenty-sixth - 5

Twenty-seventh - 4

Twenty-eighth - 2

Twenty-ninth - 3

Thirtieth - 3

Thirty-first - 5

B. On and after January 1, 1975, no additional circuit court judge shall be authorized or provided for any judicial circuit until the Judicial Council has made a study of the need for such additional circuit court judge and has reported its findings and recommendations to the Courts of Justice Committees of the House of Delegates and Senate. In its study, the Judicial Council shall consider, and report its findings regarding, the reduced case load that will occur if Family Court judgeships are authorized in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 4.1, Article 2 of Title 16.1. Nor shall the boundary of any judicial circuit be changed until a study has been made by the Judicial Council and a report of its findings and recommendations made to said Committees.

C. If the Judicial Council finds the need for an additional circuit court judge after a study is made pursuant to subsection B, the study shall be made available to the State Compensation Board and the Courts of Justice Committees of the House of Delegates and Senate. The State Compensation Board shall make a study of the need to provide additional courtroom security and deputy court clerk staffing. This study shall be reported to the Courts of Justice Committees of the House of Delegates and the Senate, and to the Department of Planning and Budget.