{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/8.01-378.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/8.01-378.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/8.01-378.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/8.01-378.html"}],"law_id":377216,"edition_id":2,"section_id":377216,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-378","catch_line":"Trial judge not to direct verdicts","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-218; 1958, c. 208; 1977, c. 617; 1985, c. 214; 1986, c. 253.","full_text":"In no action tried before a jury shall the trial judge give to the jury a peremptory instruction directing what verdict the jury shall render. If the trial judge has granted a motion to strike the evidence of the plaintiff or the defendant, the judge shall enter summary judgment or partial summary judgment in conformity with his ruling on the motion to strike.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1407864,"text":"In no action tried before a jury shall the trial judge give to the jury a peremptory instruction directing what verdict the jury shall render. If the trial judge has granted a motion to strike the evidence of the plaintiff or the defendant, the judge shall enter summary judgment or partial summary judgment in conformity with his ruling on the motion to strike.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":53617,"edition_id":2,"name":"Certain Incidents of Trial","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":25,"parent_id":53558,"metadata":{"child_laws":21,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:19:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:19","permalink":{"id":1504273,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53617,"identifier":"13","token":"8.01\/13","url":"\/8.01\/13\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53558,"edition_id":2,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":12,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1095,"child_structures":142},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:32","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:09","permalink":{"id":1504031,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53558,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":377211,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-374","catch_line":"Procedure when original papers in cause are lost","url":"\/8.01-374\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-374","metadata":false},{"id":377210,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-374.1","catch_line":"Consolidation or bifurcation of issues or claims in certain cases; appeal","url":"\/8.01-374.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-374.1","metadata":false},{"id":377212,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-375","catch_line":"Exclusion of witnesses in civil cases (Subsection (a) of Supreme Court Rule 2:615 derived in part from this section and subsection (b) of Supreme Court Rule 2:615 derived from this section)","url":"\/8.01-375\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-375","metadata":false},{"id":377213,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-376","catch_line":"Views by juries","url":"\/8.01-376\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-376","metadata":false},{"id":377215,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-377","catch_line":"Remedy when variance appears between evidence and allegations","url":"\/8.01-377\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-377","metadata":false},{"id":377214,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-377.1","catch_line":"Summary judgment","url":"\/8.01-377.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-377.1","metadata":false},{"id":377216,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-378","catch_line":"Trial judge not to direct verdicts","url":"\/8.01-378\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-378","metadata":false},{"id":377221,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379","catch_line":"Argument before jury","url":"\/8.01-379\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379","metadata":false},{"id":377217,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.1","catch_line":"Informing jury of amounts sued for","url":"\/8.01-379.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.1","metadata":false},{"id":377218,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.2","catch_line":"Jury instructions","url":"\/8.01-379.2\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.2","metadata":false},{"id":377219,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.2:1","catch_line":"Spoliation of evidence","url":"\/8.01-379.2_1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":377220,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379.3","catch_line":"General verdict accompanied by answer to interrogatories","url":"\/8.01-379.3\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379.3","metadata":false},{"id":377224,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-380","catch_line":"Dismissal of action by nonsuit; fees and costs","url":"\/8.01-380\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-380","metadata":false},{"id":377225,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-381","catch_line":"What jury may carry out","url":"\/8.01-381\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-381","metadata":false},{"id":377226,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-382","catch_line":"Verdict, judgment or decree to fix period at which interest begins; final order; judgment or decree for interest","url":"\/8.01-382\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-382","metadata":false},{"id":377228,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-383","catch_line":"Power to grant new trial; how often","url":"\/8.01-383\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-383","metadata":false},{"id":377227,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-383.1","catch_line":"Appeal when verdict reduced and accepted under protest; new trial for inadequate damages","url":"\/8.01-383.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-383.1","metadata":false},{"id":377232,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384","catch_line":"Formal exceptions to rulings or orders of court unnecessary; motion for new trial unnecessary in certain cases","url":"\/8.01-384\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384","metadata":false},{"id":377229,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.1","catch_line":"Interpreters for deaf or hard of hearing in civil proceedings","url":"\/8.01-384.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.1","metadata":false},{"id":377230,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.1:1","catch_line":"Interpreters for non-English-speaking persons in civil cases","url":"\/8.01-384.1_1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":377231,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-384.2","catch_line":"Waiver of discovery time limitations by parties","url":"\/8.01-384.2\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-384.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":377214,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-377.1","catch_line":"Summary judgment","url":"\/8.01-377.1\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-377.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":377221,"structure_id":53617,"section_number":"8.01-379","catch_line":"Argument before jury","url":"\/8.01-379\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-379","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-378\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1958, chapter 208; in 1977, chapter 617; in 1985, chapter 214; in 1986, chapter 253.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1504299,"object_type":"law","relational_id":377216,"identifier":"8.01-378","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-378","url":"\/8.01-378\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-378\/","token":"8.01\/13\/8.01-378","dublin_core":{"Title":"Trial judge not to direct verdicts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-378","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In no <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> tried before a <span class=\"dictionary\">jury<\/span> shall the <span class=\"dictionary\">trial<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> give to the <span class=\"dictionary\">jury<\/span> a peremptory instruction directing what <span class=\"dictionary\">verdict<\/span> the <span class=\"dictionary\">jury<\/span> shall render. If the <span class=\"dictionary\">trial<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> has granted a <span class=\"dictionary\">motion to strike<\/span> the <span class=\"dictionary\">evidence<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">plaintiff<\/span> or the <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> shall enter <span class=\"dictionary\">summary judgment<\/span> or partial <span class=\"dictionary\">summary judgment<\/span> in conformity with his ruling on the <span class=\"dictionary\">motion to strike<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTRIAL JUDGE NOT TO DIRECT VERDICTS (\u00a7 8.01-378)\n\nIn no action tried before a jury shall the trial judge give to the jury a\nperemptory instruction directing what verdict the jury shall render. If the\ntrial judge has granted a motion to strike the evidence of the plaintiff or the\ndefendant, the judge shall enter summary judgment or partial summary judgment in\nconformity with his ruling on the motion to strike.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-218; 1958, c. 208; 1977, c. 617; 1985, c. 214; 1986, c.\n253.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}