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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351317</law_id><section_number>19.2-158</section_number><catch_line>When person not free on bail shall be informed of right to counsel and amount of bail</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="54" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="13" identifier="10">Disability of Judge or Attorney for Commonwealth; Court- Appointed Counsel; Interpreters; Transcripts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Appointment of Attorney for Accused</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every person charged with an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> described in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Duty of court when accused appears without counsel" href="/19.2-157/">19.2-157</a>, who is not free on <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or otherwise, shall be brought before the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> not of record, unless the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">issues</span> process commanding the presence of the person, in which case the person shall be brought before the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, on the first day on which such <span class="dictionary">court</span> sits after the person is charged, at which time the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> shall inform the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> of the amount of his <span class="dictionary">bail</span> and his right to <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">court</span> not of record sits on a day prior to the scheduled sitting of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> which issued process, the person shall be brought before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> not of record. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall also hear and consider <span class="dictionary">motions</span> by the person or Commonwealth relating to <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or conditions of release pursuant to Article 1 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/19.2-119/">19.2-119</a> et seq.) of Chapter 9 of this title. Absent good cause shown, a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> on <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or conditions of release shall be held as soon as practicable but in no event later than three calendar days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, following the making of such <span class="dictionary">motion</span>.</p><p>No <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> on the charges against the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> shall be had until the foregoing conditions have been complied with, and the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to employ <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> of his own choice, or, if appropriate, the statement of indigence provided for in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Determination of indigency; guidelines; statement of indigence; appointment of counsel" href="/19.2-159/">19.2-159</a> may be executed.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 19.1-241.2, 19.1-241.8; 1964, c. 657; 1966, c. 460; 1973, c. 316; 1975, c. 495; 1998, c. 773; 1999, cc. 829, 846; 2014, c. 515.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>Stevens v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>110402</case_number><citation></citation><date>2012-01-13</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1057937/stevens-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Present: Kinser, C.J., Lemons, Goodwyn, Millette, and Mims, .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Graves v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>No. 0713-89-1</case_number><citation>12 Va. App. 53</citation><date>1991-03-12</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6932294/graves-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Opinion .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="2"><name>Allen v. Burke</name><case_number>81-1781</case_number><citation>690 F.2d 376</citation><date>1982-09-22</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/409428/allen-v-burke/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 690 F.2d 376 .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="3"><name>Stevens v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>0266093</case_number><citation>704 S.E.2d 585</citation><date>2011-02-01</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1062012/stevens-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. UPON REHEARING EN BANC .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="4"><name>Allen v. Burke</name><case_number>No. 81-1781</case_number><citation>690 F.2d 376</citation><date>1982-09-22</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/8926210/allen-v-burke/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. ERVIN, Circuit Judge: .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
