SB 6 — Judges; increases from six to seven the maximum number in the Thirty-first Judicial Circuit.
Last action — Approved by Governor-Chapter 579 (effective 7/1/22)
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
✓Passed Senate
-
✓Passed House of Delegates
-
✓To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 29, 2021. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on April 11, 2022.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
-
Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
-
13 sponsors
1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 8 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Maximum number of judges in each judicial circuit. Increases from six to seven the maximum number of authorized judges in the Thirty-first Judicial Circuit. This bill is a recommendation of the Judicial Council of Virginia and is identical to HB 821.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
57 added · 56 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendment to § 17.1-507 of the Code of Virginia updates the maximum number of judges in several judicial circuits. Notably, the maximum number of judges for the First Circuit has been increased from 5 to 6, and the Fifth Circuit from 4 to 5. This change affects the distribution of judicial resources across the circuits, potentially impacting case management and access to judicial services in those areas.
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY ––-- 2022 SESSION CHAPTER E579 An Act to amend and reenact § 17.1-507 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the maximum number of judges in each judicial circuit.
R O [S 6] Approved LApril L11, 2022 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
E § 17.1-507.
DA. forth, who shall during their service reside within their respective circuits and whose compensation and powers shall be the same as now and hereafter prescribed for circuit judges.
For the several judicial circuits there shall be judges, the maximum number as hereinafter set forth, who shall during their service reside within their respective circuits and whose compensation and powers shall be the same as now and hereafter prescribed for circuit judges.
First –– 5 Second –– 8 Third –– 4 Fourth –– 8 B Fifth –– 4 ESixth –– 3 Seventh –– 5 R Eighth –– 3 Ninth –– 4 Tenth –– 4 Eleventh –– 3 Twelfth –– 6 Thirteenth –– 7 Fourteenth –– 5 Fifteenth –– 11 Sixteenth –– 616 Seventeenth –– 4 Eighteenth –– 3 Nineteenth –– 15 Twentieth –– 5 Twenty-first –– 3 Twenty-second –– 4 Twenty-third –– 5 Twenty-fourth –– 6 Twenty-fifth –– 666 Twenty-sixth –– 8 Twenty-seventh –– 6 Twenty-eighth –– 4 Twenty-ninth –– 5 Thirtieth –– 4 Thirty-first –– 6 7 B.
No additional circuit court judge shall be authorized or provided for any judicial circuit until the Judicial Council has made a study of the need for such additional circuit court judge and has reported its findings and recommendations to the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the SenatesSenate reported Committee on the Judiciary.
If the Judicial Council finds the need for an additional circuit court judge after a study is made pursuant to subsection B, the study shall be made available to the Compensation Board and the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and Council shall publish notice of such finding in a publication of general circulation among attorneys licensed to practice in the courtroomCommonwealth. security and deputy court clerk staffing.
ThisThe studyCompensation Board shall bemake reporteda tostudy the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senateneed Committee on the Judiciary, and to theprovide Departmentadditional ofcourtroom Planningsecurity and ofdeputy 0court Budget.clerk staffing.
This study shall be reported to the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and to the Department of Planning and Budget.
View plain text versions (3)
- CHAP0579 View text Current pdf April 11, 2022
- SB6ER View text pdf February 28, 2022
- Prefiled Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22100512D pdf November 29, 2021
Action History
-
Approved by Governor-Chapter 579 (effective 7/1/22)
-
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2022
-
Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2022
-
Signed by Speaker
-
Signed by President
-
Impact statement from DPB (SB6ER)
-
Enrolled
-
VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N)
-
Passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)
-
Read third time
-
Read second time
-
Reported from Courts of Justice (20-Y 0-N)
-
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
-
Read first time
-
Placed on Calendar
-
Passed Senate (35-Y 5-N)
-
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)
-
Read third time and passed Senate (35-Y 4-N)
-
Read second time and engrossed
-
Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
-
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 4-N)
-
Impact statement from DPB (SB6)
-
Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
-
Reported from Judiciary (14-Y 0-N)
-
Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
-
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22100512D
Sponsors
- Scott A. Surovell · Primary
- Jeremy S. McPike · Cosponsor
- Richard H. Stuart · Cosponsor
- Dan I. Helmer · Cosponsor
- Danica A. Roem · Cosponsor
- Briana D. Sewell · Cosponsor
- Luke E. Torian · Cosponsor
- Suhas Subramanyam · Cosponsor
- Kathleen Murphy · Cosponsor
- Kaye Kory · Cosponsor
- Elizabeth R. Guzman · Cosponsor
- John J. Bell · Cosponsor
- George L. Barker · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 135 not signed on · 7 voted No
"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 98 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 98 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 99% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (20)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Adams, Les R. | — | Yea |
| Bell, Robert B. | — | Yea |
| Bourne, Jeffrey M. | — | Yea |
| Campbell, Jeffrey L. | — | Yea |
| Campbell, Ronnie R. | — | Yea |
| Charniele L. Herring | — | Yea |
| Don Scott | — | Yea |
| Freitas, Nicholas J. | — | Yea |
| James A. "Jay" Leftwich | — | Yea |
| Jason S. Ballard | — | Yea |
| Jessica L. Anderson | — | Yea |
| Karrie K. Delaney | — | Yea |
| Keam, Mark L. | — | Yea |
| Marcus B. Simon | — | Yea |
| Patrick A. Hope | — | Yea |
| Ransone, Margaret B. | — | Yea |
| Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Terry G. Kilgore | — | Yea |
| Vivian E. Watts | — | Yea |
| Wren M. Williams | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 35 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 35 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 88% | 10% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 88% | 13% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 75% | 25% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (16)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Barker, George L. | — | Yea |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ebbin, Adam P. | — | Yea |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Howell, Janet D. | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Newman, Stephen D. | — | Nay |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Ruff, Frank M., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Vogel, Jill Holtzman | — | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (14)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Morrissey, Joseph D. | — | Yea |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Yea |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Yea |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Yea |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Yea |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
| William M. Stanley, Jr. | — | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 6 do?
- Maximum number of judges in each judicial circuit. Increases from six to seven the maximum number of authorized judges in the Thirty-first Judicial Circuit. This bill is a recommendation of the Judicial Council of Virginia and is identical to HB 821.
- Who sponsors SB 6?
- SB 6 is sponsored by Scott A. Surovell, Jeremy S. McPike, Richard H. Stuart, Dan I. Helmer, Danica A. Roem, Briana D. Sewell, Luke E. Torian, Subramanyam, Suhas, Murphy, Kathleen, Kory, Kaye, Guzman, Elizabeth R., Bell, John J., and Barker, George L..
- What is the current status of SB 6?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 29, 2021. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 6?
- Track SB 6 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on SB 6
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of SB 6
Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →