Find Lawyers in Virginia

Within the Virginia judicial branch, there are two federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts.

• City Courts
• District Courts
• Circuit Courts
• Virginia Court of Appeals
• VirginiaSupreme Court

It’s interesting to note that the vast majority of cases will be held in front of a District Court, then depending on the outcome, the case can be elevated to higher courts.  In the end,  the Supreme Court is considered the highest authority.

The Federal District courts in Virginia are:

• Eastern District of Virginia
• Western District of Virginia

Trial Courts:
Circuit Courts

Every county and city in Virginia has a Circuit Court. Most civil cases are handled by the circuit court. It has joint jurisdiction with the regular district court to handle civil cases for personal injury and wrongful death.  The circuit court has the ability to hear felonies, deals with divorce cases and other family-related issues. The circuit court also hears appeals from the juvenile and domestic relations district courts as well as the general district court.

General District Courts

The general district court considers matters including moving violations, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for felonies, which are more serious offenses.

In civil cases with claims of $4,500 or less, general district courts have exclusive jurisdiction. They jointly have jurisdiction with circuit courts over cases with claims of $4,500 to $25,000, and they have jurisdiction over cases with claims of $50,000 or more in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Juvenile / Domestic Relations District Courts

The juvenile and domestic relations district court is a restricted jurisdiction trial court with 32 judicial districts that serve the Commonwealth and consider cases concerning children and families.

Magistrate System

The magistrate’s main duties include conducting probable cause hearings on criminal charges made by law enforcement or the general public and determining whether an arrested person is eligible for bail. The magistrate serves the Commonwealth through offices in all 32 court districts.

Facts:

Did you know there are 23,923 lawyers practicing law in the state?

Other Links:

• Virginia Judiciary
• Virginia State Bar
• Virginia State Law Library
• Virginia Legal Aid Society