HR24 • 2026

Judges; nominations for election to circuit court.

Nominating persons to be elected to circuit court judgeships.

Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Maldonado
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Passed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how the nominees will be elected or confirmed, nor does it specify any qualifications for becoming a circuit court judge.

Nominating Judges to Circuit Courts

This bill nominates specific individuals to be elected as judges in various circuit courts across the state.

What This Bill Does

Nominates Rufus A. Banks, Jr., to serve as a judge for the First Judicial Circuit starting July 1, 2026.
Nominates Stephen C. Mahan and Jonathan L. Stone to serve as judges in the Second Judicial Circuit with different start dates.
Names Michael A. Gaten, Jane M. Reynolds, Charles D. Clark, Dale B. Durrer, Michael F. Devine, Marin B. Greene, Charles N. Dorsey, Joel R. Branscom, Michael Lee Moore, and Brian K. Patton as judges for their respective circuits starting on specific dates.
Each nomination is for an eight-year term.

Who It Names or Affects

People nominated to become circuit court judges in different regions of the state.

Terms To Know

Judicial Circuit: A region or area where a specific group of courts operate, handling cases within that defined territory.
Nomination: The act of officially suggesting someone for an important position, like being a judge in this case.

Limits and Unknowns

It does not specify how the nominees will be elected or confirmed.
Does not include details about qualifications or requirements to become a circuit court judge.

Bill History

2026-04-16 House
Bill text as passed House (HR24ER)
2026-01-21 House
Presented, ordered printed (HR24)
2026-01-21 House
Engrossed by House
2026-01-21 House
Agreed to by House by voice vote
2026-01-21 House
Elected by House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-21 House
Engrossed by House

Official Summary Text

Nominating persons to be elected to circuit court judgeships.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Nominating persons to be elected to circuit court judgeships.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 21, 2026
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the following persons are hereby nominated to be elected to the respective circuit court judgeships as follows:
The Honorable Rufus A. Banks, Jr., of Chesapeake, as a judge of the First Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing July 1, 2026.
The Honorable Stephen C. Mahan, of Virginia Beach, as a judge of the Second Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing October 1, 2026.
The Honorable Jonathan L. Stone, of Virginia Beach, as a judge of the Second Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing February 1, 2026.
The Honorable Michael A. Gaten, of Hampton, as a judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing July 1, 2026.
The Honorable Jane M. Reynolds, of Stafford, as a judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing April 1, 2026.
Charles D. Clark, Esquire, of Hanover, as a judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing April 1, 2026.
The Honorable Dale B. Durrer, of Culpeper, as a judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing July 1, 2026.
The Honorable Michael F. Devine, of Fairfax County, as a judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing April 1, 2026.
Marin B. Greene, Esquire, of Fairfax County, as a judge of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing July 1, 2026.
The Honorable Charles N. Dorsey, of Salem, as a judge of the Twenty-third Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing July 1, 2026.
The Honorable Joel R. Branscom, of Botetourt, as a judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing February 1, 2026.
The Honorable Michael Lee Moore, of Russell, as a judge of the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing April 1, 2026.
The Honorable Brian K. Patton, of Russell, as a judge of the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit for a term of eight years commencing July 1, 2026.