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The Judicial Center
5 North Kent Street
Winchester, Virginia 22601
E-Mail: Winchester Circuit Court
E-Mail: Frederick Co Circuit Court 		(540) 667-5770
City Fax: (540) 667-6638
County Fax: (540) 545-8711
Marriage Info: (540) 667-8623
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Local Rules of Court - General Provisions
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General Provisions
Effective June 29, 1995
Application of Rules Rule 1:1
Business Hours, Days and Holidays Rule 1:2
Schedule of Regular Days Rule 1:3
Calendar of Holidays and Regular Days Rule 1:4
Use of Docket Numbers Rule 1:5
Counsel Fees Rule 1:6

  • Rule 1:1.   Application of Rules.
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    • These rules and any amendments hereto shall apply as of their effective date to all civil cases, as indicated, and to all criminal cases, as indicated, pending or hereafter instituted in all courts of this Circuit, except where in pending cases their application in the opinion of the Court would not be feasible or would work injustice.


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  • Rule 1:2.  Business Hours, Days and Holidays.
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    1. All proceedings shall commence at 9:00 A.M. unless the presiding judge shall designate some other hour.

    2. Excepting holidays as mentioned in this Rule, the regular business days of the Courts for the conduct of their proceedings shall be Monday through Friday of each week.

    3. The regular holidays of the Courts shall be as set forth in Virginia Code § 2.1-21. In addition there may be special holidays for any Court by entry of order pursuant to Code § 17-41(8).

    4. Nothwithstanding the other provisions of this Rule, in case of emergency or other necessity as determined by a Court, it may in its discretion set for hearing or hear any matter on any day other than a regular business day.


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  • Rule 1:3.  Schedule of Regular Days.
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    1. Term Days.

      If the first day, known as Term Day, of any Term as scheduled above shall fall on a legal holiday as set or defined in § 2.1-21, then such Term shall commence and its Term Day be on the day next following.

      By virtue of order heretofore entered pursuant to Virginia Code § 17-127.21, Term Days shall be as follows:

      1. City of Winchester: Second Tuesday in January, April, July and October. The Grand Jury also meets on the Second Tuesday of every month. See the Winchester Court Calendar) or call (540) 667-5770.

      2. Frederick County: Thursday after the first Monday in January, April, July and October. See the Frederick County Court Calendar) or call (540) 667-5770.

      3. Page County: Please call the Page County Circuit Court at (540) 743-4064 for specific dates and times.

      4. Rockingham County: Please call the Rockingham County Circuit Court at (540) 564-3111 for specific dates and times.

      5. Shenandoah County: Please call the Shenandoah County Circuit Court at (540) 459-6158 for specific dates and times.

      6. Warren County: Please call the Warren County Circuit Court at (540) 635-2435 for specific dates and times.

      7. Clarke County: Please call the Clarke County Circuit Court at (540) 955-5116 for specific dates and times.


    2. Misdemeanor Appeals Days.
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      If a Misdemeanor Appeal Day is on a legal holiday as defined in Rule 1:2(c), then said Misdemeanor Appeal Day shall be upon the day immediately preceding, except in Rockingham and Frederick Counties it shall be on the day immediately following.

      Misdemeanor Appeal Days shall be a follows:

      1. City of Winchester: The fourth Tuesday in each month. See the Winchester Court Calendar) or call (540) 667-5770.

      2. Frederick County: Wednesday after the third Monday in February, April, June, August, October and December. See the Frederick County Court Calendar) or call (540) 667-5770.

      3. Page County: Please call the Page County Clerk's Office at (540) 743-4064 for specific dates and times.

      4. Rockingham County: Please call the Rockingham County Clerk's Office at (540) 564-3111 for specific dates and times.

      5. Shenandoah County: Please call the Shenandoah County Clerk's Office at (540) 459-6158 for specific dates and times.

      6. Warren County: Please call the Warren County Clerk's Office at (540) 635-2435 for specific dates and times.

      7. Clarke County: Please call the Clarke County Clerk's Office at (540) 955-5116 for specific dates and times.

    3. Motion Days.
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      If a Motion Day is on a legal holiday as defined in rule 1:2(c), then said Motion Day shall be upon the day immediately preceding in the County of Clarke and the City of Winchester and on the day immediately following in the Counties of Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren.

      Motions Days shall be a follows:


      1. City of Winchester: The third or fourth Thursday in each month. See Winchester Court Calendar or call (540) 667-5770.

      2. Frederick County: Wednesday after the second and fourth Mondays in each month. See the Frederick County Court Calendar or call (540) 667-5770.

      3. Page County: Please call the Page County Circuit Court at (540) 743-4064 for specific dates and times.

      4. Rockingham County: Please call the Rockingham County Circuit Court at (540) 564-3111 for specific dates and times.

      5. Shenandoah County: Please call the Shenandoah County Circuit Court at (540) 459-6158 for specific dates and times.

      6. Warren County: Please call the Warren County Circuit Court at (540) 635-2435 for specific dates and times.

      7. Clarke County: Please call the Clarke County Circuit Court at (540) 955-5116 for specific dates and times.

    4. The foregoing schedule of regular days notwithstanding, on an ad hoc basis, the date of any one may in case of necessity be omitted, or changed or continued to some other convenient date by timely entry of an order for the purpose.


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  • Rule 1:4.  Calendar of Holidays and Regular Days.
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    • Annually, before the first day of January, the clerk of each court shall prepare a list in chronological order showing so far as foreseeable the date in the succeeding calendar year of each holiday mentioned in Rule 1:2 and each day pertaining to that court mentioned in Rule 1:3 (a), (b) and (c).

    • The Clerk of each Court shall furnish a copy of such list to each Circuit judge and District Court from which appeal lie to that Court and to attorneys regulary practicing before that Court, and upon request shall furnish a copy to any other attorney or other person having need therefor.


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  • Rule 1:6.  Counsel and Guardian ad Litem Fees.
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    • In criminal and civil cases, including habeas corpus ad subjiciendum cases, request or claim for fee of court-appointed counsel and for necessary expenses incurred therein shall be submitted promptly and include or have attached thereto a brief itemization of the hours expended, the nature of the work done by counsel and of the expenses incurred in such case, and if not a Commonwealth criminal case, the name of the prosecuting entity where counsel fee and such expenses. In all other cases where counsel fee or guardian ad litem fee is allowable, the presiding judge may require submission of such information. Except for telephone and intra-circuit travel, prior court approval of expenses is necessary.


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