2025 SESSION

ENROLLED

VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 16.1-69.35:3, relating to chief judges; designation of cases to be heard in the Twelfth Judicial District.

[H 2599]

Approved

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 16.1-69.35:3 as follows:

§ 16.1-69.35:3. Twelfth Judicial District; chief judges; designation of cases to be heard in Colonial Heights.

The chief judges of the Twelfth Judicial District General District Court and the Twelfth Judicial District Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court may, in the interest of justice and by order, designate one or more of the courtrooms of the Colonial Heights General District Court or Colonial Heights Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court as the courtroom or courtrooms in which civil or criminal cases whose proper, preferred, or permissible venue is laid within Chesterfield County are to be tried. With respect to such orders, in case of conflict between the provisions of this section and other provisions outside this section relating to venue in cases heard by the judges of general district courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts, all such other provisions are hereby superseded.

2. That the provisions of this act shall expire at such time that an additional judge and additional administrative staff are authorized and funded for either or both of the general district and the juvenile and domestic relations district courts in the Twelfth Judicial District and (i) the courthouse building located in Chesterfield County where such additional judge shall preside and such administrative staff shall be employed is expanded or otherwise renovated to provide courtroom and office space for such judge and administrative staff or (ii) alternate courtroom and support space is identified for use by such judge and administrative staff.

3. That the chief judges of the Twelfth Judicial District General District Court and the Twelfth Judicial District Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court shall not enter any order or take any other action to use the courtrooms of the Colonial Heights General District Court or the Colonial Heights Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for any civil or criminal cases whose proper, preferred, or permissible venue is laid within Chesterfield County until the city manager of the City of Colonial Heights and the county administrator of Chesterfield County execute a memorandum of understanding that specifies the terms and conditions for such use of the Colonial Heights courtrooms.