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1998 SESSION


CHAPTER 3
An Act to amend and reenact § 17-119.1:2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to number of circuit court judges.
[H 174]
Approved March 5, 1998

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

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

§ 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 - 4

Second - 10

Third - 4

Fourth - 9

Fifth - 3

Sixth - 2

Seventh - 4 5

Eighth - 4

Ninth - 4

Tenth - 3

Eleventh - 3

Twelfth - 4

Thirteenth - 8

Fourteenth - 4

Fifteenth - 6

Sixteenth - 5

Seventeenth - 4

Eighteenth - 3

Nineteenth - 15

Twentieth - 3 4

Twenty-first - 3

Twenty-second - 3

Twenty-third - 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 (§ 16.1-69.6:1 et seq.) of Title 16.1. Nor shall Additionally, the boundary of any judicial circuit shall not 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.