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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353688</law_id><section_number>20-66</section_number><catch_line>Contempt proceedings; trial in absence of defendant</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="56" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="7" identifier="5">Desertion and Nonsupport</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> If the person so summoned fails without reasonable cause to appear as herein required, he or she may be proceeded against as for <span class="dictionary">contempt of court</span> and the court may, (1) proceed with the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of the case in his or her absence and render such <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> as to it seems right and proper, or (2) continue the case to some future date. <a id="paragraph-1317633" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-66/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> be proceeded with in the absence of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> and <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> be entered against him or her, he or she may, within thirty days after the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> is rendered, make application to the court to have the case reopened, and after due notice to the original complainant, for good cause, the court may reopen the case and enter such <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> as is right and proper. <a id="paragraph-1317634" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-66/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1944, p. 211; Michie Suppl. 1946, &#xA7; 1937a; 1974, c. 464.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
