{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/17.1-517.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/17.1-517.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/17.1-517.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/17.1-517.html"}],"law_id":350167,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350167,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-517","catch_line":"Number of terms; how fixed","history":"1973, c. 544, \u00a7 17-127.21; 1976, c. 133; 1998, c. 872.","full_text":"The chief judge of each circuit shall fix the terms of each of the courts within his circuit; provided, that there shall be at least four terms of court each year, and the dockets for criminal and civil cases may be called on the same or different days in any courtroom of the circuit. Such terms shall be fixed by order, which shall be entered in the common-law order book in each court. The order fixing or changing the terms of court shall be entered on or before January 1, to become effective July 1, and a copy of the order shall be forwarded to the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, who shall cause an abstract thereof to be published in the Code of Virginia, as a part of the Rules of Court.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1305007,"text":"The chief judge of each circuit shall fix the terms of each of the courts within his circuit; provided, that there shall be at least four terms of court each year, and the dockets for criminal and civil cases may be called on the same or different days in any courtroom of the circuit. Such terms shall be fixed by order, which shall be entered in the common-law order book in each court. The order fixing or changing the terms of court shall be entered on or before January 1, to become effective July 1, and a copy of the order shall be forwarded to the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, who shall cause an abstract thereof to be published in the Code of Virginia, as a part of the Rules of Court.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":50124,"edition_id":2,"name":"Establishment; Jurisdiction; Etc","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50123,"metadata":{"child_laws":36,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:41","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:13","permalink":{"id":1390699,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50124,"identifier":"1","token":"17.1\/5\/1","url":"\/17.1\/5\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50123,"edition_id":2,"name":"Circuit Courts","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":50105,"metadata":{"child_laws":36,"child_structures":1},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:41","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:13","permalink":{"id":1390697,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50123,"identifier":"5","token":"17.1\/5","url":"\/17.1\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50105,"edition_id":2,"name":"Courts of Record","identifier":"17.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":50,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":322,"child_structures":25},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:09","permalink":{"id":1389801,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50105,"identifier":"17.1","token":"17.1","url":"\/17.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350140,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-500","catch_line":"Establishment of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-500\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":350141,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-501","catch_line":"Judges of circuit courts; selection, powers and duties of chief judges; exercise of appointive powers","url":"\/17.1-501\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":350142,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-502","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Administrator of circuit court system","url":"\/17.1-502\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":350143,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-503","catch_line":"Rules of practice and procedure; rules not to preclude judges from hearing certain cases","url":"\/17.1-503\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":350144,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-504","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/17.1-504\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":350145,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-505","catch_line":"Circuit court of county to constitute circuit court of certain cities","url":"\/17.1-505\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":350146,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-506","catch_line":"Judicial circuits","url":"\/17.1-506\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":350147,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-507","catch_line":"Maximum number of judges; residence requirement; compensation; powers; etc","url":"\/17.1-507\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-507","metadata":false},{"id":350148,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-508","catch_line":"Judges in new or changed circuits; ratifying, validating and confirming certain actions","url":"\/17.1-508\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-508","metadata":false},{"id":350149,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-509","catch_line":"Vacancies in office of judge","url":"\/17.1-509\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-509","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350150,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-510","catch_line":"Election of judge of new circuit; how court held meanwhile","url":"\/17.1-510\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":350151,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-511","catch_line":"Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled","url":"\/17.1-511\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":350152,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-512","catch_line":"Election of successor judge before date of vacancy","url":"\/17.1-512\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":350156,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-513\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":350153,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513.01","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of circuit courts with respect to charitable assets","url":"\/17.1-513.01\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513.01","metadata":false},{"id":350154,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513.1","catch_line":"Appeals from administrative proceedings; abuse and neglect; record to be sealed","url":"\/17.1-513.1\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513.1","metadata":false},{"id":350155,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513.2","catch_line":"Use of telephonic communication systems or electronic video and audio communication systems to conduct hearing","url":"\/17.1-513.2\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513.2","metadata":false},{"id":350157,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-514","catch_line":"When plaintiff entitled to less than $100; judgment for defendant","url":"\/17.1-514\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-514","metadata":false},{"id":350165,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515","catch_line":"Jurisdiction formerly in county courts","url":"\/17.1-515\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515","metadata":false},{"id":350158,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.1","catch_line":"Territorial jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg","url":"\/17.1-515.1\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.1","metadata":false},{"id":350159,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-515.2\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.2","metadata":false},{"id":350160,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.3","catch_line":"Designation of courtrooms within twenty-first and twenty-third circuits for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.3\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.3","metadata":false},{"id":350161,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.4","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within sixteenth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.4\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.4","metadata":false},{"id":350162,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.5","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.5\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.5","metadata":false},{"id":350163,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.6","catch_line":"Concurrent law-enforcement jurisdiction over Joint Judicial Center in Winchester","url":"\/17.1-515.6\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.6","metadata":false},{"id":350164,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.7","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.7\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.7","metadata":false},{"id":350166,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-516","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters","url":"\/17.1-516\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-516","metadata":false},{"id":350167,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-517","catch_line":"Number of terms; how fixed","url":"\/17.1-517\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-517","metadata":false},{"id":350168,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-518","catch_line":"Special terms; when, how and by whom appointed","url":"\/17.1-518\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-518","metadata":false},{"id":350169,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-519","catch_line":"Adjournment thereof to a future day","url":"\/17.1-519\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-519","metadata":false},{"id":350170,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-520","catch_line":"What tried at a special term","url":"\/17.1-520\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-520","metadata":false},{"id":350171,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-521","catch_line":"Who to hold special term; powers","url":"\/17.1-521\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-521","metadata":false},{"id":350172,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-522","catch_line":"Adjournment of special term","url":"\/17.1-522\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-522","metadata":false},{"id":350173,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-523","catch_line":"Salaries of judges of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-523\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-523","metadata":false},{"id":350174,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-524","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-524\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-524","metadata":false},{"id":350175,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-525","catch_line":"Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty","url":"\/17.1-525\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-525","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350166,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-516","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters","url":"\/17.1-516\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-516","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":350168,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-518","catch_line":"Special terms; when, how and by whom appointed","url":"\/17.1-518\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-518","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-517\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 544 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1973 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1976, chapter 133; in 1998, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?981+ful+CHAP0872\">872<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1390809,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350167,"identifier":"17.1-517","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-517","url":"\/17.1-517\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-517\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-517","dublin_core":{"Title":"Number of terms; how fixed","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-517","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The <span class=\"dictionary\">chief judge<\/span> of each <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> shall fix the terms of each of the <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> within his <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>; provided, that there shall be at least four terms of <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> each year, and the <span class=\"dictionary\">dockets<\/span> for criminal and civil cases may be called on the same or different days in any courtroom of the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span>. Such terms shall be fixed by <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span>, which shall be entered in the common-<span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> book in each <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>. The <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> fixing or changing the terms of <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> shall be entered on or before January 1, to become effective July 1, and a copy of the <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> shall be forwarded to the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class=\"dictionary\">Court<\/span>, who shall cause an abstract thereof to be published in the Code of Virginia, as a part of the Rules of <span class=\"dictionary\">Court<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nNUMBER OF TERMS; HOW FIXED (\u00a7 17.1-517)\n\nThe chief judge of each circuit shall fix the terms of each of the courts within\nhis circuit; provided, that there shall be at least four terms of court each\nyear, and the dockets for criminal and civil cases may be called on the same or\ndifferent days in any courtroom of the circuit. Such terms shall be fixed by\norder, which shall be entered in the common-law order book in each court. The\norder fixing or changing the terms of court shall be entered on or before\nJanuary 1, to become effective July 1, and a copy of the order shall be\nforwarded to the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, who shall cause an\nabstract thereof to be published in the Code of Virginia, as a part of the Rules\nof Court.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 544, \u00a7 17-127.21; 1976, c. 133; 1998, c. 872.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}