SB780 • 2026

Judges; maximum number in general district court in Twenty-sixth Judicial District.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 16.1-69.6:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to maximum number of judges in each judicial district.</p>

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Enacted

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

Sponsor: Obenshain
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Incorporated
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information about when the increase will take effect or whether it is part of a larger bill.

Increase in Number of Judges for Twenty-Sixth Judicial District

This bill increases the maximum number of general district court judges from five to six in the Twenty-sixth Judicial District.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law to allow up to six general district court judges instead of five in the Twenty-sixth Judicial District.

Who It Names or Affects

Judges and courts in the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District
People who need to go to court in this district

Terms To Know

General District Court Judges: Judges who handle minor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil disputes.
Twenty-Sixth Judicial District: A specific area in Virginia where this change applies to the number of judges.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when the increase will take effect.
It only affects one district, so other districts remain unchanged.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Finance and Appropriations
Incorporated by Finance and Appropriations (SB158-Perry) (15-Y 0-N)
2026-01-28 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-01-22 Senate
Presented and ordered printed 26105708D
2026-01-22 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Maximum number of judges in each judicial district.
Increases from five to six the maximum number of authorized general district court judges in theTwenty-sixth Judicial District. This bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts. This bill was incorporated into SB 158.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
16.1-69.6:1
of the Code of Virginia, relating to maximum number of judges in each judicial district.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
16.1-69.6:1
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
16.1-69.6:1
. Number of judges.

For the several judicial districts
,
there shall be full-time general district court judges and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges, the maximum number as hereinafter set forth, who shall during their service reside within their respective districts, except as provided in §
16.1-69.16
, and whose compensation and powers shall be the same as now and hereafter prescribed for general district court judges and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges.

The maximum number of judges of the districts shall be as follows:

General District

Juvenile and Domestic

Court Judges

Relations District Court Judges

First

4

4

Second

7

7

Two-A

2

1

Third

2

3

Fourth

6

5

Fifth

3

2

Sixth

5

3

Seventh

4

4

Eighth

3

3

Ninth

4

4

Tenth

3

3

Eleventh

3

3

Twelfth

5

6

Thirteenth

6

5

Fourteenth

5

5

Fifteenth

8

9

Sixteenth

4

6

Seventeenth

3

2

Eighteenth

2

2

Nineteenth

12

8

Twentieth

4

4

Twenty-first

2

2

Twenty-second

3

4

Twenty-third

4

5

Twenty-fourth

3

6

Twenty-fifth

4

5

Twenty-sixth

5

6

7

Twenty-seventh

5

5

Twenty-eighth

3

3

Twenty-ninth

2

3

Thirtieth

2

3

Thirty-first

6

6

The election or appointment of any district judge shall be subject to the provisions of §
16.1-69.9:3
.