The authority of the Circuit Court is as follows:

Civil Cases

In civil cases, the circuit court has concurrent jurisdiction with the General District Court over claims from $4,500 to $15,000 and exclusive original jurisdiction over claims exceeding $15,000. These claims are called law actions. The Circuit Court also has jurisdiction over all equity matters; these include divorce cases, disputes concerning wills and estates, and controversies involving property.

Criminal Cases

In criminal cases, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over the trial of all felonies (offenses that may be punished by commitment to State penitentiary) and of those misdemeanors (offenses carrying a penalty of not more than twelve months in jail) originally charged in General District Court. The Circuit Court also has jurisdiction over juveniles aged fourteen and older who are charged with felonies and whose cases have been certified by the judge of a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for trial in a Circuit Court.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The circuit court has appellate jurisdiction over all appeals from General District Court in civil and criminal cases and from Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in matters originating in that court. Appeals from these district courts are heard de novo; that is, the cases are tried from the beginning as though there had been no prior trial. The parties have the right to a jury trial in the Circuit Court.

The circuit court's appellate jurisdiction also extends to appeals from certain administrative agencies.

Location:
Jennings Building Judicial Center
4110 Chain Bridge Road Fairfax, VA 22030

Clerks Office Hours:
8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday-Friday (Phone inquiries until 4:30 p.m.)

TRIAL START TIMES GENERALLY: 10 A.M.
*Second day and further at the discretion of the judge may start earlier.

CIVIL MOTIONS:
Fridays, 10 a.m. generally

Fairfax County Circuit Court Information Line
Area Code 703 for all Numbers Below
703-691-7320 (press appropriate numbers)

Circuit Court Phone Directory

The information provided in this directory will guide you to the appropriate staff member in the Circuit Court. However, you may access information automatically if you have a case number. For Civil cases press 3,1,1 and follow the steps; Criminal cases press 3,2 ,1 and follow the steps. This automated method will allow access from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Directions to the court can be accessed by pressing 1, immediately after hearing the automated voice.

This information can be found in The Fairfax Circuit Court Manual. This detailed text, with forms, and a computer disk is available to the public and lawyers in The Fairfax Bar Law Library. Individual copies may be obtained from the Fairfax Bar Association 703-246-2740, for $204.75 including tax (additional $25 for shipping).

NOTE: Fairfax Circuit Court Motions Procedures and Forms are free and available in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

Please review these procedures prior to filing a motion for direction on scheduling and memorandum requirements.

Attorneys or parties may place a conference call to the Circuit Court Judges' Chambers 703-691-7320, press 3, 7 to speak with the Chief Judges Administrative Assistant to request a certain date for a trial or hearing. Both parties or counsel must be on the telephone line or one person may select the date with agreement of the other party.

Continuance/Postponement of a Case

The Judges of the Circuit Court have adopted a general policy of disfavoring continuances of cases. The court sets firm trial dates in cases. Continuances or delays of trial are granted only where good cause is shown by the parties or counsel. Lawyers and parties may not agree to continue a case; only a judge may continue a trial after an appropriate consideration of the reasons offered by the lawyers or parties for delay. Difficulty completing routine discovery or general inconvenience are not good reasons to delay a case in our court.

Persons requesting a continuance of a case should arrange to see the Calendar Control Judge in chambers in person (both counsel or parties must be present) or by phone on a conference call. Unless there is mutual agreement to appear, written notice to the opposing counsel or the party must be given of the date and time you will appear in chambers to request a continuance. When you arrive at chambers request a written Request for Continuance Form and complete it prior to seeing the Calendar Control Judge.

The Fairfax Circuit Court is open five days a week. Parties involved in cases, lawyers and jurors should plan to leave home early with extra time in inclement weather as the court rarely closes. Like a hospital, the Courthouse renders an essential service to the public. Parties involved in cases spend months and thousands of dollars preparing their cases for trial. Delay of a case due to inclement weather may require the case to be postponed or worse a mistrial resulting in the loss of valuable trial time, unwarranted delay and loss of money invested for expert witnesses for the parties. If you are a juror and have difficulty, please call the court immediately for assistance.

POLICY: In the event the Fairfax County Government closes, then the Circuit Court closes.