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Virginia Dept of Justice Case status and Information

Online access to case information regarding all Virginia courts (circuit court, general district court, juvenile and domestic court, and appeals court). Search by name or case number.

Circuit Court

There is a circuit court in each city and county in Virginia. The circuit court is the trial court with the broadest powers in Virginia. The circuit court handles most civil cases with claims of more than $25,000. It shares authority with the general district court to hear matters involving claims between $4,500 and $25,000, and in civil cases for personal injury and wrongful death up to $50,000. The circuit court has the authority to hear serious criminal cases called felonies. The circuit court also handles family matters, including divorce. In addition, the circuit court hears cases appealed from the general district court and from the juvenile and domestic relations district court.

General District Court

There is a general district court in each city and county in Virginia. The general district court handles traffic violations, hears minor criminal cases known as misdemeanors, and conducts preliminary hearings for more serious criminal cases called felonies. General district courts have exclusive authority to hear civil cases with claims of $4,500 or less and share authority with the circuit courts to hear cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000, and up to $50,000 in civil cases for personal injury and wrongful death. Examples of civil cases are landlord and tenant disputes, contract disputes and suits in debt.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court

There is a juvenile and domestic relations district court in each Virginia city and county. In Virginia, a juvenile is any person under 18 years of age. The juvenile and domestic relations district court hears all matters involving juveniles such as criminal or traffic matters. Juvenile delinquency cases are cases involving a minor under the age of 18 who has been accused of committing an offense that would be considered criminal if committed by an adult. Other juvenile offenses may be referred to as status offenses. Status offenses are those acts that are unlawful only because they are committed by a minor. In addition, this court handles other matters involving the family such as custody, support and visitation. The court also hears family abuse cases, cases where adults have been accused of child abuse or neglect, and criminal cases where the defendant and alleged victim are family or household members.

The Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals of Virginia was established January 1, 1985. It is an intermediate appellate court created to increase the appellate capacity of the court system and expedite appellate review. Its administrative headquarters are in the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, Virginia.

The Virginia Supreme Court

Although the Supreme Court of Virginia possesses both original and appellate jurisdiction, its primary function is to review decisions of lower tribunals. Virginia does not allow an appeal to the Supreme Court as a matter of right except in cases involving the State Corporation Commission and certain disciplinary actions against attorneys.

The Court’s original jurisdiction is limited to cases of habeas corpus (ordering one holding custody of a detained person to show custody is proper), mandamus (ordering the holder of an office to perform his duty), prohibition (ordering a lower court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial body to refrain from improperly taking jurisdiction), and actual innocence (based on biological testing). The Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction in matters filed by the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission relating to judicial censure and retirement, and removal of judges.