Supreme Court of Virginia
From Judgepedia
| Supreme Court of Virginia |
|---|
|
| Sitting justices |
| Leroy Roundtree Hassell Barbara Milano Keenan Lawrence Koontz Cynthia Kinser Donald Lemons Bernard Goodwyn Leroy Millette |
| Former justices |
| Virginia on Judgepedia |
Contents |
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the court of last resort in Virginia. The court is located in Richmond, Virginia.
Jurisdiction
The court's primary function is to review lower court decisions, and state law does not allow appeals to the court "as a matter of right" except where the State Corporation Commission, the disbarment of an attorney or a review of the death penalty is involved. The court has both original and appellate jurisdiction. Original jurisdiction is limited to matters filed by the Virginia Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission (on the topics of judicial censure, retirement, and the removal of judges) and to cases of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, and "writs of actual innocence pursuant to Virginia's Code § 19.2-327.2."[1]
Case load
According to the Annual Report in 2007, the number of filings decreased by 108 cases from the year before. The year's total in 2007 was 2,634 cases filed with the Supreme Court of Virginia.[2]
The court's justices
Selection of justices
Justices may be appointed by the Governor, however, they must be elected by the state Legislature. South Carolina is the only other state that selects its supreme court justices with this method.
Qualifications
The Pre-Appointment Application to be filed with the Governor of Virginia is available here. Additionally, a nominating organization may fill out a nominating form, available here.
Current justices
| Name | Appointed | Term expires | Appointed by | Governor's Party affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice Leroy Hassell | 1989 | February 2011 | Gerald Baliles | Democrat |
| Barbara Keenan | 1991 | June 30, 2015 | Douglas Wilder | Democrat |
| Lawrence Koontz | 1995 | August 15, 2019 | George Allen | Republican |
| Cynthia Kinser | 1997 | January 31, 2010 | George Allen | Republican |
| Donald Lemons | 1998 | March 16, 2012 | George Allen | Republican |
| Bernard Goodwyn | 2007 | January 31, 2020 | Tim Kaine | Democrat |
| Leroy Millette | 2008 | January 31, 2021 | Tim Kaine | Democrat |
Chief justice
Leroy Roundtree Hassell, Sr. is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. A Norfolk native, Justice Hassell is the first black chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. Justice Hassell was nominated to the Court by Democratic Governor Baliles.
History of the court
The court has its roots in the 17th-century English legal system, owing to the state's original establishment as an English colony. In 1970, the court was renamed to its current title, and is the highest court in the state. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, but also hears family law and administrative cases that have come through the Court of Appeals of Virginia.[3]
Before a case is heard by the Supreme Court, a petition is filed with the Clerk which is then assigned to a law clerk for research and further preparation. Oral arguments are heard before a panel of three justices. In rare cases, oral arguments may be heard by the Chief Staff Attorney who would then present the case to the panel for decision. The justices review the merits of each case and one justice may grant an appeal. All three justices must concur to deny an appeal. If denied, the appeal process ends and the judgment of the lower court is affirmed. If review is granted, the appeal proceeds and argument of the cases is scheduled before the Court. Opinions are published on the last day of each session of the Court in Virginia Reports.[4]
External links
References
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The Virginia Project on Judgepedia
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