District Court Judges’ Benchbook 2012 EDITION PREPARED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIA with the assistance of The Office of the Executive Secretary Supreme Court of Virginia Richmond, Virginia ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIA BENCHBOOK COMMITTEE 2012 EDITION The Honorable William A. Becker, Chair The Honorable Randall M. Blow The Honorable Becky J. Moore The Honorable Robert S. Brewbaker, Jr. The Honorable Stacey W. Moreau The Honorable Pamela L. Brooks The Honorable Deborah M. Paxson* The Honorable Francis W. Burkart, III The Honorable Florence A. Powell The Honorable David Eugene Cheek, Sr. The Honorable Robert A. Pustilnik The Honorable Jay Edward Dugger The Honorable Angela E. Roberts The Honorable Constance Frogale The Honorable William W. Sharp The Honorable Teena D. Grodner The Honorable Frank W. Somerville* The Honorable Karen A. Henenberg The Honorable Robert C. Viar, Jr. The Honorable Julian W. Johnson The Honorable Jacqueline F. Ward Talevi The Honorable Colleen K. Killilea* The Honorable A. Ellen White* The Honorable Judith Anne Kline The Honorable Susan L. Whitlock The Honorable R. Larry Lewis The Honorable Alotha C. Willis The Honorable Vincent A. Lilley* The Honorable Dean S. Worcester The Honorable Barry G. Logsdon * Subcommittee Chair DISTRICT COURT JUDGES’ BENCHBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS I. DISTRICT COURTS – IN GENERAL . 1. Organization of District Court System ................................................................................................. 1 2. Voluntary Associations of District Court Judges ................................................................................ 2 3. Organization of Judicial Districts ......................................................................................................... 3 4. Judicial Conduct..................................................................................................................................... 4 5. General Management ............................................................................................................................. 6 6. Research Resources for Judges ............................................................................................................. 8 7. Marriages ................................................................................................................................................ 9 II. GENERAL DISTRICT COURT A. Contempt 1. Forms of Contempt: Criminal and Civil ............................................................................................ 11 a. Distinguishing Civil and Criminal Contempt .................................................................................. 11 b. Civil Contempt ................................................................................................................................ 12 c. Criminal Contempt .......................................................................................................................... 16 d. Statutory Violations ........................................................................................................................ 24 e. Appeal of Findings of Contempt ..................................................................................................... 29 B. Civil Procedure 1. Civil Jurisdiction .................................................................................................................................. 32 a. Dollar Amount ................................................................................................................................ 32 b. Interest ............................................................................................................................................ 32 c. Subject Matter ................................................................................................................................. 32 d. Venue .............................................................................................................................................. 34 2. Small Claims Division .......................................................................................................................... 35 a. Jurisdiction ...................................................................................................................................... 35 b. Subject Matters ............................................................................................................................... 35 c. How Actions are Commenced (Special Forms Provided to Clerk) ................................................. 35 d. Special Unauthorized Practice of Law Rules .................................................................................. 35 e. Removal .......................................................................................................................................... 36 f. Rules of Evidence Suspended ......................................................................................................... 36 g. Object of Small Claims Division .................................................................................................... 36 h. Judgment and Collection ................................................................................................................. 36 i. Appeals (§ 16.1-122.7) .................................................................................................................... 36 3. Process ................................................................................................................................................... 37 a. Types ............................................................................................................................................... 37 b. Return Date ..................................................................................................................................... 37 c. Service of Process ........................................................................................................................... 37 d. Trial Date Information .................................................................................................................... 39 e. Actions Brought By and Against Persons Under a Disability (PUD) ............................................. 39 f. Amendments to Pleadings, Rule 7A:9 ............................................................................................ 40 g. Counsel of Record ........................................................................................................................... 40 h. Unauthorized Practice of Law ......................................................................................................... 40 4. Pre-Trial Matters ................................................................................................................................. 41 a. Removal, § 16.1-92 ......................................................................................................................... 41 b. Venue, § 8.01-257 et seq. ................................................................................................................ 41 c. Bills of Particulars and Grounds of Defense ................................................................................... 43 d. Discovery ........................................................................................................................................ 44 e. Affidavits in Contract Claims, §§ 16.1-88, 8.01-28 ........................................................................ 44 ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF VIRGINIA 2012 EDITION BENCHBOOK COMMITTEE - i - DISTRICT COURT JUDGES’ BENCHBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS f. Statutes of Limitation, § 8.01-228 et seq. ....................................................................................... 44 g. Counterclaims and Cross-Claims §§ 16.1-88.01, -88.02................................................................. 46 h. Amendments to Pleadings ............................................................................................................... 46 5. Trial ....................................................................................................................................................... 47 a. Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................... 47 b. Exclusion of Witnesses ................................................................................................................... 47 c. Evidence Statutes ............................................................................................................................ 47 d. Appearance and Non-Appearance by Parties .................................................................................. 51 e. Continuances ................................................................................................................................... 52 6. Appeals .................................................................................................................................................. 53 7. New Trials ............................................................................................................................................. 55 8. Enforcement of Judgments .................................................................................................................