The Circuit Court is the trial court with the broadest powers in Virginia. The Circuit Court handles all civil cases with claims of more than $15,000. It shares authority with the General District Court to hear matters involving between $4,500 and $15,000. 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.
There is a Circuit Court in each city and county in Virginia. Circuit Court Judges are elected by the General Assembly for 8-year terms.
28TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
| TERMS OF COURT: Grand Jury/Opening Day- 9:00 a.m. on the 4th Tuesday in January, April, July and October | 28TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT |
| DOCKET CALL- 10:00 a.m. on the 4th Tuesday in January, April, July and October | CHIEF JUDGE: C. RANDALL LOWE |
| CIVIL CASES SET- On opening day by AGREEMENT OF COUNSEL AND CONSENT OF COURT | JUDGES- ISAAC S FREEMAN |
| CRIMINAL CASES SET- Counsel notified of plea bargain day, plea day and criminal jury/bench trial dates by CIRCUIT JUDICIAL ASSISTANT | JUDICIAL ASSISTANT: LORI SHAFFER 276-676-6260 |
| COURT HOUSE Opens at 8:00 a.m. and Closes at 5:00 p.m. | DEPUTY CLERKS- POLLY BUCHANAN, DANA CAGNEY, PAULA JOHNSON, BARBARA MCCRACKEN, KATHY MOREFIELD, CRYSTAL RATLIFF AND RHONDA ROOP |
| HOURS OF OPERATION- MON-FRI 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Part-time DEPUTY CLERKS- GLORIA EDWARDS, KIMBERLY PATRICK |
