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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>350238</law_id><section_number>17.1-911</section_number><catch_line>Suspension of judge</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="50" identifier="17.1">Courts of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="9" identifier="9">Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In any pending investigation or formal <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may suspend a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> with pay if it finds that there is <span class="dictionary">probable cause</span> to believe that the continued performance of judicial duties by the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> constitutes both a substantial and immediate threat to the public interest in the administration of justice. <a id="paragraph-1305143" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/17.1-911/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall give the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> reasonable notice of such suspension as prescribed by the rules of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> and, if requested by the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or his attorney, shall schedule a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> during the first fifteen days of the suspension in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to determine whether justice would be served for the suspension to continue until the completion of the investigation or formal <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. <a id="paragraph-1305144" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/17.1-911/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">judge</span> whose powers are suspended by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall not exercise judicial powers during such suspension, but shall continue to be bound by the Canons of Judicial Conduct. <a id="paragraph-1305145" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/17.1-911/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1998, cc. 672, 862, &#xA7; 2.1-37.12:1; 2001, cc. 309, 318, 844.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>JUDICIAL INQUIRY AND REVIEW v. Shull</name><case_number>Record 071014.</case_number><citation>651 S.E.2d 648</citation><date>2007-11-02</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1058574/judicial-inquiry-and-review-v-shull/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 651 S.E.2d 648 (2007) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name>JUDICIAL INQUIRY &amp; REVIEW COM'N v. Elliott</name><case_number>Record 051990.</case_number><citation>630 S.E.2d 485</citation><date>2006-06-08</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1058804/judicial-inquiry-review-comn-v-elliott/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 630 S.E.2d 485 (2006) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
