Transcription
District Court Judges’ Benchbook2012 EDITIONPREPARED BY THEASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIAwith the assistance ofThe Office of the Executive SecretarySupreme Court of VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIABENCHBOOK COMMITTEE2012 EDITIONThe Honorable William A. Becker,ChairThe Honorable Randall M. BlowThe Honorable Becky J. MooreThe Honorable Robert S. Brewbaker, Jr.The Honorable Stacey W. MoreauThe Honorable Pamela L. BrooksThe Honorable Deborah M. Paxson*The Honorable Francis W. Burkart, IIIThe Honorable Florence A. PowellThe Honorable David Eugene Cheek, Sr.The Honorable Robert A. PustilnikThe Honorable Jay Edward DuggerThe Honorable Angela E. RobertsThe Honorable Constance FrogaleThe Honorable William W. SharpThe Honorable Teena D. GrodnerThe Honorable Frank W. Somerville*The Honorable Karen A. HenenbergThe Honorable Robert C. Viar, Jr.The Honorable Julian W. JohnsonThe Honorable Jacqueline F. Ward TaleviThe Honorable Colleen K. Killilea*The Honorable A. Ellen White*The Honorable Judith Anne KlineThe Honorable Susan L. WhitlockThe Honorable R. Larry LewisThe Honorable Alotha C. WillisThe Honorable Vincent A. Lilley*The Honorable Dean S. WorcesterThe Honorable Barry G. Logsdon* Subcommittee Chair
DISTRICT COURT JUDGES’ BENCHBOOKTABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTSI. DISTRICT COURTS – IN GENERAL.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.Organization of District Court System . 1Voluntary Associations of District Court Judges . 2Organization of Judicial Districts . 3Judicial Conduct. 4General Management. 6Research Resources for Judges . 8Marriages . 9II. GENERAL DISTRICT COURTA. Contempt1.Forms of Contempt: Criminal and Civil . 11a. Distinguishing Civil and Criminal Contempt. 11b. Civil Contempt . 12c. Criminal Contempt . 16d. Statutory Violations . 24e. Appeal of Findings of Contempt . 29B. Civil Procedure1.2.3.4.Civil Jurisdiction . 32a. Dollar Amount . 32b. Interest . 32c. Subject Matter . 32d. Venue . 34Small Claims Division . 35a. Jurisdiction . 35b. Subject Matters . 35c. How Actions are Commenced (Special Forms Provided to Clerk) . 35d. Special Unauthorized Practice of Law Rules . 35e. Removal . 36f. Rules of Evidence Suspended . 36g. Object of Small Claims Division . 36h. Judgment and Collection . 36i. Appeals (§ 16.1-122.7). 36Process . 37a. Types . 37b. Return Date . 37c. Service of Process . 37d. Trial Date Information . 39e. Actions Brought By and Against Persons Under a Disability (PUD) . 39f. Amendments to Pleadings, Rule 7A:9 . 40g. Counsel of Record . 40h. Unauthorized Practice of Law . 40Pre-Trial Matters . 41a. Removal, § 16.1-92 . 41b. Venue, § 8.01-257 et seq. . 41c. Bills of Particulars and Grounds of Defense . 43d. Discovery . 44e. Affidavits in Contract Claims, §§ 16.1-88, 8.01-28 . 44ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIABENCHBOOK COMMITTEE-i-2012 EDITION
DISTRICT COURT JUDGES’ BENCHBOOK5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.TABLE OF CONTENTSf. Statutes of Limitation, § 8.01-228 et seq. . 44g. Counterclaims and Cross-Claims §§ 16.1-88.01, -88.02. 46h. Amendments to Pleadings . 46Trial . 47a. Guidelines . 47b. Exclusion of Witnesses . 47c. Evidence Statutes . 47d. Appearance and Non-Appearance by Parties . 51e. Continuances . 52Appeals . 53New Trials . 55Enforcement of Judgments . 56Unlawful Entry and Detainer . 58a. Introduction . 58b. Common Law of Landlord-Tenant Relations in Virginia . 58c. Leasehold Transactions Covered by the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act . 66d. Common Issues in Landlord-Tenant Cases . 85Distress for Rent . 89a. Nature of Action . 89b. Jurisdiction . 89c. Venue, Statute of Limitations, and Priority of Liens . 89d. Filing Suit. 89e. Issuance of Warrant . 89f. Bond . 89g. Notice of Exemptions. 90h. Force in Executing the Warrant . 90i. How Tenant Can Keep Property in Lieu of Seizure . 90Detinue . 91a. Nature of Action . 91b. Jurisdiction . 92c. Venue and Statute of Limitations . 92d. Form of Judgment . 92e. Pre-Trial Seizure . 93f. Judgment . 94Appendix to Chapter 11 – Detinue . 95Attachments . 101a. Jurisdiction . 101b. Venue . 101c. Parties. 101d. Requirements of Petition for Attachment. 101e. Bonds . 103f. Execution of the Writ . 103g. Notice of Exemptions. 104h. Defendant’s Response . 104i. Trial. 104j. Additional References . 105Partition of Personality . 106APPENDIX AAPPENDIX BAPPENDIX CAPPENDIX DUnauthorized Practice of Rules . 1071991 OP. VA. ATT’Y GEN. 240 . 1261999 OP. VA. ATT’Y GEN. 168 . 1281997 OP. VA. ATT’Y GEN. 16 . 133ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIABENCHBOOK COMMITTEE- ii -2012 EDITION
DISTRICT COURT JUDGES’ BENCHBOOKTABLE OF CONTENTSC. Criminal Procedure1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.Jurisdiction . 136a. Subject Matter . 136b. Geographical Area . 136c. Protective Orders. 136Initiation of Charges . 141a. Types of Process . 141b. Specificity of Charges . 141c. Identity of Accused . 141d. Form of Warrants and Summons . 141e. Arrest Without a Warrant . 142Pre-Trial Matters . 145a. Pre-Trial Motions . 145b. Arraignments and Appointment of Counsel/Public Defender. 145c. Discovery . 147d. Statutes of Limitations . 149e. Bail and Bond . 149Venue . 155Preliminary Hearings. 157a. Presence of the Defendant . 157b. Rules of Evidence . 157c. Sufficiency of the Evidence . 157d. Judge’s Options . 157e. Discovery . 158f. Codefendants. 158g. Certificate of Analysis . 158h. Arraignment . 158i. Joint Preliminary Hearings for Multiple Defendants . 158j. Joining Preliminary Hearings with Misdemeanor Trials. 159k. Suppression Motions . 160l. Transcripts. 160m. Waiver . 160n. Bond After Certification . 160Misdemeanors and Traffic Infractions – Classes and Definitions . 161Trial of Misdemeanors and Traffic Infractions . 162a. Motions Prior to Trial – Continuance, nolle prosequi, suppression . 162b. Nolle Prosequi . 162c. Motions to Suppress Evidence . 163d. Special Provisions Applicable to Traffic Infraction Trials. 163e. Witnesses – Subpoenas, Exclusion, Competency, Privileges, Examination, Impeachment. 164f. Evidence – Hearsay, Best Evidence, and Authentication Rules. 169g. Evidence – Certificates of analysis, court records, DMV transcripts, official reports and records,and other statutory exceptions to hearsay, best evidence, and authentication rules . 171h. Evidence – character of accused, other offenses of accused . 178i. Satisfaction and Discharge (“Accord and Satisfaction”). 179j. First Offense Probation . 179k. Jeopardy/Mistrial . 182l. Codefendants. 182m. Multiple Charges/One Defendant . 182n. Psychiatric Issues . 183Amendment of Charges . 184Sentences and Dispositions . 185a. Plea Bargains . 185b. Disposition without Conviction . 185ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIABENCHBOOK COMMITTEE- iii -2012 EDITION
DISTRICT COURT JUDGES’ BENCHBOOK10.11.12.13.TABLE OF CONTENTSc. Disposition after Formal Conviction . 186d. Revocation of Probation and Suspended Sentences . 187e. Probation Supervision Resources . 187Supervising Recovery of Fines and Costs . 189Appeals . 190Re-Hearings . 191Extradition . 192a. Introduction . 192b. Arrest Before the Governor’s Order. 192c. Arrest on the Governor’s Order . 194d. When the Demanding State Fails to Take Custody of the Defendant . 194APPENDIX – Rules of Evidence (Part Two of the Rules of the Supreme Court) . 195III.JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURTA. General Provisions1.Jurisdiction and Venue . 2162. Original Jurisdiction . 216 Concurrent Jurisdiction . 218 Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (“UCCJEA”) . 219 Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (“UIFSA”) . 220 Potential vs. Actual Jurisdiction . 220 Retention of Jurisdiction . 221 Venue . 221Service of Process . 2233. General Considerations for Issuance of Summonses . 223 Service of Summonses in J&DR District Court and Proof of Service . 224 Service Outside of Virginia . 225 Service by Publication . 227 Returns and Proof of Service Generally . 229 Service of Other Pleadings and Notices Generally . 229 Special Service Provisions for Child Support Enforcement Proceedings . 230Contempt Considerations . 2324. Contempt Jurisdiction in a Virginia District Court . 232 Forms of Contempt: Criminal or Civil . 242 Types of Contempt: Direct or Indirect . 249 Recusal by the Judge . 251 Appeal of Findings of Contempt . 252 Certificate of Conviction . 253 Appeal Bonds . 253Discovery . 2555.6. General Provisions . 255 Criminal Cases . 255 Civil Cases . 258Confidentiality . 261Closed-Circuit Television Testimony. 271 General Considerations . 271 Criminal Cases . 271 Civil Cases . 272 Obtaining Closed Circuit Equipment . 273 Miscellaneous . 273210ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIABENCHBOOK COMMITTEE- iv -2012 EDITION
DISTRICT COURT JUDGES’ BENCHBOOKTABLE OF CONTENTSB. Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings1.Delinquency Proceedings in General . 2742. Definitions . 274 Jurisdiction . 274 Venue .
ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIA BENCHBOOK COMMITTEE 2012 EDITION The Honorable William A. Becker, Chair The Honorable Randall M. Blow The Honorable Robert S. Brewbaker, Jr. The Honorable Pamela L. Brooks
