VirginiaVirginia could assign complex business lawsuits to circuit judges
Starting July 1, 2027, lawyers or judges could ask Virginia’s Chief Justice to assign eligible complex civil cases to an active circuit judge.
What it does
Lawyers or the assigned judge could ask Virginia’s Chief Justice to send an eligible complex civil case to an active circuit judge. The case must meet the dollar and case-type rules, and some types of lawsuits cannot qualify.
The Supreme Court’s executive office would identify at least four active circuit judges willing to hear these cases, with judges in different regions when possible.
Argument forSending eligible complex business cases to an active judge from another circuit could help courts manage disputes that need special attention.
Argument againstThe $1 million minimum and excluded case types could keep some complex disputes from being considered for this assignment.
More detail
A party’s lawyer or the circuit judge first assigned to a case could ask the Chief Justice to assign it as a business litigation action. The case must involve at least $1 million, present special complexity, and fit a listed category, such as a dispute between businesses. Medical malpractice, personal injury, and other listed case types are excluded. The Chief Justice would review the request and, if approving it, designate an active circuit judge to hear the case. These provisions would take effect July 1, 2027.
The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia would identify at least four active circuit judges willing to hear assigned cases. The judges would be available to preside over cases assigned by the Chief Justice as business litigation actions. The judges should be in different regions of Virginia to the extent possible. This requirement would take effect July 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 21Continued from last sessionLatest
- Mar 2Continued to next session in Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
- Feb 23Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
- Feb 19Assigned HCJ sub: CivilMinor
- Feb 19Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 19Read first timeMinor
- Feb 19Placed on Calendar
- Feb 16Read third time and passed Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Feb 13Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 13Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 13Read second timeMinor
- Feb 12Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Feb 12Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 12Rules suspended
- Feb 11Reported from Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N)Minor
- Feb 5Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB369)
- Jan 30Committee substitute printed 26106454D-S1Major
- Jan 28Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 1-N 2-A)Minor
- Jan 28Senate committee offered
- Jan 13Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101724DIntroduced