Judicial Boundary Realignment Study
About
During the 2011 General Assembly Session, two bills were introduced
that would have reduced the current 31 judicial circuits and 32 judicial
districts to 19 judicial circuits and 19 judicial districts, and would
have reduced the total number of circuit and district judges authorized
pursuant to the Code of Virginia from 402 to 382. These bills, House
Bill 1990 and Senate Bill 1240, were left in the Senate Courts of Justice
Committee.
At the conclusion of the 2011 General Assembly Session, the Honorable Henry L. Marsh, III, Chair of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, wrote a letter requesting the Supreme Court of Virginia to review the judicial circuits and districts proposed by House Bill 1990 and Senate Bill 1240, and to provide its recommendations for changes to the judicial boundary lines, including the number of judges designated to serve in each judicial circuit and district, by November 1, 2011.
In response to Senator Marsh’s letter, the Chief Justice formed a study committee to provide recommendations to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court submitted its Judicial Boundary Realignment Study Report, including the Court's recommendations, to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. Any decision to change Virginia's judicial circuit and district boundaries would be made by the General Assembly.
Contact Information:
- Katya N. Herndon, Director, Department of Legislative and Public
Relations
Office of the Executive Secretary
Phone - (804) 786-6455
Public Meeting Schedule
A series of six public meetings were held across
the Commonwealth to receive comments on the realignment of judicial boundaries.
Map of Virginia’s Existing Judicial Circuits and Districts
Judicial Boundary Realignment Study Report
RSS