Jurisdiction

The only trial court of general jurisdiction in Virginia is the Circuit Court. The Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over the following:

Civil Claims:

• over $ 3,000 but not exceeding $ 15,000, concurrent jurisdiction with general district courts
• exceeding $15,000, exclusive original jurisdiction
• attachments
• validity of a county or municipal ordinance or corporate bylaw.

Criminal Cases:

• all felonies, offenses that may be punished by commitment to the state penitentiary
• misdemeanor charges originating from a grand jury indictment.

Equity Suits (claims seeking a judgment for something other than money):

• divorce proceedings
• wills, trusts and estate matters
• property disputes
• adoption proceedings.

Appeals:

• appeals from the General District Court or J&DR District Court (heard de novo)
• appeals from administrative agencies.

The circuit courts also handle any case for which jurisdiction is not specified in the Code of Virginia. At the beginning of each term of the Circuit Court a grand jury is convened. These juries serve two purposes. First, they consider bills of indictment and second, they determine whether there is sufficient probable cause to believe that a person accused of having committed a serious crime did commit such crime and should stand trial. The Grand Jury does not hear both sides of the case and does not determine the guilt or innocence of the accused.

A Special Grand Jury is convened to investigate any condition which tends to promote criminal activity in the community or which indicates malfeasance of governmental agencies or officials. This Grand Jury has subpoena powers and may summons persons, documents, or records needed in its investigation.

Source: Virginia's Courts in Brief (www.courts.state.va.us/cib/cib.htm)