Districts; District Courts and Judges This is the 2026 edition of the code. This is the current edition. It was last updated Aug 02, 2026. Browse all editions.
This is Article 2 of the Code of Virginia, titled “Districts; District Courts and Judges.” It is part of Chapter 4.1 “District Courts”, which is part of Title 16.1 “Courts Not of Record”. It contains 35 laws.
It’s comprised of the following 35 sections.
§ 16.1-69.10 Number of judges
§ 16.1-69.11 Chief judges; judges; substitute judges
§ 16.1-69.11:1 Acting chief judge
§ 16.1-69.12 Limitations on practice of law by judges
§ 16.1-69.13 Repealed
§ 16.1-69.14 Number of substitute judges
§ 16.1-69.15 Qualifications of judges
§ 16.1-69.16 Residence requirements
§ 16.1-69.17 Oath of office of judges, clerks and others
§ 16.1-69.17:1 Time within which a judge may qualify; failure to do so vacates office
§ 16.1-69.18 Bonds of judges, clerks, and others handling funds
§ 16.1-69.19 Incompatible offices
§ 16.1-69.20 Repealed
§ 16.1-69.21 When substitute to serve; his powers and duties
§ 16.1-69.22 Removal of judges and substitute judges
§ 16.1-69.22:1 Temporary recall of retired district court judges; evaluation
§ 16.1-69.23 In what cases judge disqualified
§ 16.1-69.24 Contempt of court
§ 16.1-69.25 Judge may issue warrants, summons, and subpoenas
§ 16.1-69.25:1 Judge shall order bill of particulars; time for motion
§ 16.1-69.26 Judges as conservators of the peace
§ 16.1-69.27 Additional powers of judges
§ 16.1-69.28 Commitment of insane, etc., persons
§ 16.1-69.29 Jurisdiction over certain waters
§ 16.1-69.29:1 Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty
§ 16.1-69.6 Establishment of districts
§ 16.1-69.6:1 Number of judges
§ 16.1-69.7 District courts
§ 16.1-69.7:1 Establishment of certain district courts
§ 16.1-69.8 Existing courts continued and redesignated; exception
§ 16.1-69.9 Judges in office continued; terms of judges; how elected or appointed
§ 16.1-69.9:1 Appointment, terms, etc., of substitute judges
§ 16.1-69.9:2 Vacancies in office of judges; terms of successor judges; appointment while General Assembly not in session
§ 16.1-69.9:3 Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled
§ 16.1-69.9:4 Same; election of successor judges