The Court of Appeals of Virginia, established January 1, 1985, is an intermediate appellate court of 21 judges that hears appeals from decisions of Virginia's circuit courts and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. The Court sits in panels of at least three judges, and sometimes hears cases en banc. Appeals from the Court of Appeals go to the Supreme Court of Virginia.
History A 1971 Virginia Court System Study Commission stated the need for a unified court system to handle appeals.Report of the Court System Study Commission to The Governor and The General Assembly of Virginia, Virginia House Document No. 6 (1972 Regular Session) (1971) The Court of Appeals of Virginia was established on January 1, 1985, as an intermediate court of limited appellate jurisdiction, initially with ten judges, with an eleventh judge added in 2000.
In March 2021, legislation was passed to expand the jurisdiction and composition of the Court from 11 judges to 17 judges, coming into effect July 1, 2021. The Court was further expanded to 21 judges, effective September 1, 2026.
Judges
The Court of Appeals consists of 17 judges who are elected for eight-year terms by a majority of the members of each house of the General Assembly. The Court of Appeals may designate seven retired judges of the Court to serve as senior judges.
Jurisdiction Reforms effective January 2022 As part of a comprehensive reform bill passed by the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law in March 2021, the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals expanded on January 1, 2022, as follows:
Litigants can now appeal as of right a lower court's decision in civil cases, and the Supreme Court of Virginia will retain the power to select which appeals it hears. Criminal defendants can now appeal as of right a lower court's decision in criminal cases, but the Commonwealth will still need to petition the Court of Appeals if it wishes to appeal a decision in a criminal case. The Court of Appeals now has jurisdiction to hear interlocutory appeals and petitions for review of injunctions.
An appeal filed with the Supreme Court of Virginia before January 1, 2022, remains under its jurisdiction.
Procedure
Since January 1, 2022, when the court's jurisdiction expanded, most appeals are initiated by filing a timely notice of appeal in the tribunal whose order is being appealed and a copy with the clerk of the Court of Appeals.
Decisions are issued by the Court of Appeals by written opinion or order.
Current composition As of January 1, 2025:
Active NameBornStartTerm ends Mandatory retirementLaw school, Chief JudgeRichmondVirginiaWashington and LeeWilliam and MaryRichmondDaytonGWUTSUVanderbiltHowardVirginiaVirginiaWilliam and MaryMercerUNCWash UWilliam and MaryVacantVacantVacantVacant
Senior NameActive ServiceChief TermSenior Start1995–2004 ——20052000–2008 ——2009 2006–2021——20212008–2023——2024
Chief judges Judge Chief E. Ballard Baker 1985 Lawrence L. Koontz, Jr. 1985–1993 Norman K. Moon 1993–1997 Johanna L. Fitzpatrick 1997–2006 Walter S. Felton, Jr. 2006–2014 Glen A. Huff 2015–2019 Marla Graff Decker 2019–
References
External links A Short History of the Court of Appeals of Virginia The Court of Appeals of Virginia Website. Frequently Asked Questions About the Court of Appeals of Virginia Published Court of Appeals of Virginia Opinions (since 5/2/1995). Unpublished Court of Appeals of Virginia Opinions (since 3/5/2022). Search Court of Appeals of Virginia Opinions. Recordings of Court of Appeals of Virginia Oral Arguments (since 5/20/2014). Search Court of Appeals of Virginia Case Status Information.