Supreme Court of Virginia Decisions

The appellate jurisdiction of the Virginia Supreme Court is largely discretionary. A party may appeal from a lower court to the Supreme Court as a matter of right only if a case involves the death penalty, the disbarment of an attorney, or the State Corporation Commission. In addition to its appellate jurisdiction, the Supreme Court holds original jurisdiction over writs of mandamus, prohibition, habeas corpus, and actual innocence. Its original jurisdiction also extends to matters related to the discipline, removal, or retirement of judges, which are filed by the Virginia Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission.

Seven justices serve on the Virginia Supreme Court, which is located in Richmond. A candidate may submit a pre-appointment application to the Governor of Virginia, or an organization may nominate a candidate. Virginia uses the legislative selection method to appoint its justices. In most cases, therefore, a justice will announce that they plan to retire after the next meeting of the General Assembly. If a vacancy arises without notice while the legislature is not in session, the Governor has the authority to appoint a temporary replacement. The General Assembly then will need to determine whether to grant a full term to that justice when it next meets.

Each justice serves a term of 12 years. When their term expires, the General Assembly will determine whether to retain them. Virginia imposes a mandatory retirement age of 70 on its justices. However, the Supreme Court may allow up to five retired justices to serve one-year terms as senior justices. They may assist with reviewing writs and may review other cases if an active justice is not available, such as when they are recused.

Browse Opinions From the Supreme Court of Virginia
Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Virginia
Cappe v. Commonwealth
Date: February 13, 2025
 Docket Number: 240055
Boyette v. Sprouse (ORDER)
Date: January 23, 2025
 Docket Number: 240135
Cridler-Smith v. Clarke  
Date: January 16, 2025
 Docket Number: 230450

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2017, John Cridler-Smith was convicted of possession with intent to distribute more than five pounds of marijuana. The case began when a postal worker in Loudoun County, Virginia, noticed a suspicious parcel from…

Al-Saray v. Furr  
Date: January 16, 2025
 Docket Number: 230488

Justia Opinion Summary: On November 10, 2014, a traffic accident occurred at the intersection of Wellington Road and Market Place Avenue involving vehicles driven by Sharon Elizabeth Furr and Janaia Spurlock. Tamara Al-Saray, a passenger in…

Commonwealth v. Holland  
Date: January 16, 2025
 Docket Number: 230907

Justia Opinion Summary: Tanya Rashae Holland pleaded no contest to felony child neglect resulting in serious injury after giving her three-year-old son methadone, mistaking it for Zyrtec. Her son lost consciousness and nearly died. Holland was…

Bon Secours-DePaul Medical Center v. Rogakos-Russell  
Date: January 2, 2025
 Docket Number: 230879

Justia Opinion Summary: Father Constantine P. Rogakos, an 86-year-old retired Greek-Orthodox priest, visited Bon Secours-DePaul Medical Center for an outpatient abdominal ultrasound. He used a cane due to a shuffled gait and had a history of…

Baez v. Commonwealth of Virginia  
Date: December 19, 2024
 Docket Number: 230899

Justia Opinion Summary: On May 22, 2020, Officers Massie and Hubbard of the Lynchburg Police Department attempted to stop Tara Ann Baez for speeding. After a brief pursuit, Baez stopped her vehicle and was arrested for reckless driving and…

Josephson v. Commonwealth  
Date: December 12, 2024
 Docket Number: 230856

Justia Opinion Summary: Junior Josephson was convicted of possession of heroin and fentanyl, as well as petit larceny. He received suspended sentences for the drug offenses and 90 days to serve on the larceny charge, with the condition that he…

Commonwealth v. Carolino  
Date: December 12, 2024
 Docket Number: 230945

Justia Opinion Summary: Patrick Austin Carolino was convicted of strangulation after a bench trial. The incident involved Carolino and his then-girlfriend, Hannah Ford, who testified that Carolino choked her during an argument, causing her to…

Johnson-Bey v. Commonwealth  
Date: November 27, 2024
 Docket Number: 230619

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2003, Stanley Edward Johnson-Bey was convicted of a drug offense and received a suspended sentence. Over the next seventeen years, he repeatedly violated the conditions of his probation and suspended sentence, leading…

Rebh v. County Board of Arlington County (ORDER)
Date: November 27, 2024
 Docket Number: 240493
Commonwealth v. Wallace (ORDER)
Date: November 21, 2024
 Docket Number: 240138
Bista v. Commonwealth  
Date: November 14, 2024
 Docket Number: 230721

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Dilliraj Bista, who was accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old child, R.P., who has autism spectrum disorder. Bista, a close family friend, stayed with R.P.'s family in Fairfax County, Virginia,…

King v. Commonwealth  
Date: October 24, 2024
 Docket Number: 230483

Justia Opinion Summary: Kevin Thomas King was convicted of felony unauthorized use of another’s vehicle after a bench trial. The incident occurred on December 31, 2020, when King attended a party at Isaac Robertson, Jr.'s home. King asked…

Jenkins v. Virginia State Bar
Date: October 17, 2024
 Docket Number: 240276
The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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