Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB158: An Act to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-69.6:1 and 17.1-507 of the Code of Virginia, relating to maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit; study to examine organization and boundaries of certain judicial circuits; report.
Status: Chaptered, April 13, 2026
Maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit; study to examine organization and boundaries of certain judicial districts; report. Increases by one the maximum number of authorized general district court judges in the Twelfth and Twenty-sixth Judicial Districts. The bill also increases by one the maximum number of authorized juvenile and domestic relations district court judges in the Twelfth and Fifteenth Judicial Districts. The bill further increases by one the maximum number of authorized circuit court judges in the Twentieth and Twenty-seventh Judicial Circuits. Under the bill, the provisions relating to increasing the number of judges in the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. Finally, the bill directs the Judicial Council of Virginia to study the organization and boundaries of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Judicial Circuits and to submit an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2026. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts and the Judicial Council of Virginia. This bill incorporates SB 780.
What the bill says
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-69.6:1 and 17.1-507 of the Code of Virginia, relating to maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit; study to examine organization and boundaries of certain judicial circuits; report. [S 158] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That §§ 16.1-69.6:1 and 17.1-507 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows: § 16.1-69.6:1. Number of judges. For the several judicial districts there shall be full-time general district court judges and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges, the maximum number as hereinafter set forth, who.
From the enrolled text, April 13, 2026:
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-69.6:1 and 17.1-507 of the Code of Virginia, relating to maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit; study to examine organization and boundaries of certain judicial circuits; report. [S 158] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That §§ 16.1-69.6:1 and 17.1-507 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows: § 16.1-69.6:1. Number of judges. For the several judicial districts there shall be full-time general district court judges and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges, the maximum number as hereinafter set forth, who shall during their service reside within their respective districts, except as provided in § 16.1-69.16, and whose compensation and powers shall be the same as now and hereafter prescribed for general district court judges and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges. The maximum number of judges of the districts shall be as follows: General District Juvenile and Domestic Court Judges Relations District Court Judges First 4 Second 7 Two-A 2 Third 2 Fourth 6 Fifth 3 Sixth 5 Seventh 4 Eighth 3 Ninth 4 Tenth 3 Eleventh 3 Twelfth [DELETED: 5 ]6 [DELETED: 6 ]7 Thirteenth 6 Fourteenth 5 Fifteenth 8 [DELETED: 9 ]10 Sixteenth 4 Seventeenth 3 Eighteenth 2 Nineteenth 12 Twentieth 4 Twenty-first 2 Twenty-second 3 Twenty-third 4 Twenty-fourth 3 Twenty-fifth 4 …