If any term of a circuit court is to end, or has ended, without the dispatch of all its business or if there be a failure to hold any term or it is expedient in the opinion of the judge of the court to hold a special term for the trial of any cause pending in such court or of issues made up in any cause by consent of parties, or if the situation of a person confined in jail for trial in such circuit court makes it proper that his case should be disposed of before the next regular term thereof, or necessity in the judge's opinion requires it, the judge of such circuit court or, if he is dead or is unable from any cause to hold his court, the judge of any other circuit court who has been designated to hold such terms, may, by order entered in such court or by a warrant directed to the clerk, appoint a special term thereof and prescribe in such order or warrant whether any venire is to be summoned to attend the term. The clerk shall inform the attorney for the Commonwealth and the sheriff of such appointment, post a copy of the warrant or order at the front door of the courthouse and issue all proper process to such special term and the sheriff shall execute the process.
Code 1919, § 5894, § 17-129; 1973, c. 544; 1998, c. 872.
Structure Code of Virginia
§ 17.1-500. Establishment of circuit courts
§ 17.1-503. Rules of practice and procedure; rules not to preclude judges from hearing certain cases
§ 17.1-505. Circuit court of county to constitute circuit court of certain cities
§ 17.1-507. Maximum number of judges; residence requirement; compensation; powers; etc.
§ 17.1-508. Judges in new or changed circuits; ratifying, validating and confirming certain actions
§ 17.1-509. Vacancies in office of judge
§ 17.1-510. Election of judge of new circuit; how court held meanwhile
§ 17.1-511. Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled
§ 17.1-512. Election of successor judge before date of vacancy
§ 17.1-513. Jurisdiction of circuit courts
§ 17.1-513.01. Jurisdiction of circuit courts with respect to charitable assets
§ 17.1-513.1. Appeals from administrative proceedings; abuse and neglect; record to be sealed
§ 17.1-514. When plaintiff entitled to less than $100; judgment for defendant
§ 17.1-515. Jurisdiction formerly in county courts
§ 17.1-515.1. Territorial jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg
§ 17.1-515.4. Designation of certain courtrooms within sixteenth circuit for trial of certain cases
§ 17.1-515.6. Concurrent law-enforcement jurisdiction over Joint Judicial Center in Winchester
§ 17.1-516. Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters
§ 17.1-517. Number of terms; how fixed
§ 17.1-518. Special terms; when, how and by whom appointed
§ 17.1-519. Adjournment thereof to a future day
§ 17.1-520. What tried at a special term
§ 17.1-521. Who to hold special term; powers
§ 17.1-522. Adjournment of special term