Virginia State Appellate Courts

The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest appellate court in the Commonwealth. It traces its origins to the Charter of 1606 under which the Jamestown colony was established, and a 1623 Act of the Virginia Colony's House of Burgesses creating a five justice appellate court. Although the Supreme Court of Virginia possesses both original and appellate jurisdiction, its primary function is to review decisions of the Court of Appeals and Circuit Courts. With certain exceptions, all matters appealed to the Supreme Court are discretionary, and are determined by writ of certiorari. Virginia does not allow an appeal to the Supreme Court as a matter of right except in cases involving the State Corporation Commission, the disbarment of an attorney, and criminal cases in which the death penalty has been given.

The Supreme Court Building is located in downtown Richmond, Virginia, at the corners of North 9th and Bank Streets. The administrative headquarters of the Court of Appeals are located in the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, Virginia.

The Court of Appeals of Virginia was established January 1, 1985. It is an intermediate appellate court with limited jurisdiction over hearing appeals as of right in certain matters, including: domestic relations matters (including divorce and children's issues), final decisions of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission; final decisions of a circuit court on appeal from a decision of a state administrative agency; convictions in criminal and traffic matters except in capital cases where the death penalty is imposed; final decisions of a circuit court on an application for a concealed weapons permit; and certain preliminary rulings in felony cases when requested by the Commonwealth. Finally, the Court of Appeals also has original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition and habeas corpus in any case over which the Court of Appeals would have appellate jurisdiction.

Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Virginia

100 N Ninth Street
5th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219

PHONE: 804-786-2251
WEB: http://www.courts.state.va.us/scv/home.html

Virginia Court of Appeals

109 N Eighth Street
Richmond, VA 23219

PHONE: 804-371-8428
WEB: http://www.courts.state.va.us/coa/coa.htm