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The Fairfax Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit, [1] is a court of general jurisdiction, serving the County and City of Fairfax, Virginia, in the United States. It is the largest trial court in Virginia and handles both civil and criminal cases. The Court comprises fifteen full-time judges. [2]
The Fairfax Circuit Court's roots date to 1742 when Fairfax County was established. The old courthouse, constructed in 1799, played a central role in the county's legal and administrative activities. [2] [3]
From its inception, the Court became a central hub for the county's governmental and social activities. The early court cases, often reflecting the social norms and conflicts of the time, included everything from property disputes to public punishments. [3] The Court, like many Southern courts before the Civil War, was involved in the enforcement of slavery laws in Virginia. The Court's responsibilities included adjudicating disputes involving enslaved individuals, overseeing the sale and transfer of enslaved people, and handling cases of runaway slaves. [4] Court records from the period reveal numerous cases where enslaved individuals were the subject of legal disputes, reflecting the harsh realities of their lives. [5]
The Historic Records Center, located in the old courthouse, houses George and Martha Washington's wills and the Slavery Index. [6]
A new judicial center was constructed in the 1980s. This facility provided the necessary space and resources for more efficient [7] court operations, accommodating the growing demands of the county's population. [3] The courthouse was significantly expanded and upgraded in 2008–09. [7]
In recent decades, the Fairfax Circuit Court has incorporated technological advancements to improve access to justice. This includes electronic filing systems, digital record-keeping, and virtual hearings. The Court has also implemented drug and veteran treatment dockets, to address specific societal issues through tailored judicial interventions. [2] [8] [9]
On August 14, 2020, the fifteen judges of the Court adopted a landmark plan to promote racial equality, diversity in qualified candidates for appointment as sub-judges, and other measures to enhance public confidence in the fairness of the Fairfax Circuit Court. [10]
The Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court's responsibilities include managing the court's records, overseeing the administration of probate and land records, issuing marriage licenses, and providing clerical assistance to the judges in both civil and criminal cases. [2] [11]
Christopher J. Falcon was the first Hispanic Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court, elected to the position November 7, 2023, [12] and took office on January 1, 2024. [13]
The Fairfax Circuit Court's historical preservation includes the Fairfax Circuit Court Slavery Index. This index documents records from the early 1700s to the 1860s that reference enslaved individuals, including probate documents like wills, trusts, deeds of gift, and estate settlements. Housed in the Court's Historic Records Center at the old courthouse, the project aims to provide comprehensive data for genealogical and historical research. [14] [15] [16]
Letcher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,548. Its county seat is Whitesburg. It was created in 1842 from Harlan and Perry counties, and named for Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. It has jurisdiction over the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Richmond metro areas and surrounding locations with courthouses located in Alexandria, Norfolk, Richmond and Newport News.
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears direct appeals in civil cases from the trial-level city and county circuit courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that are initially appealed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Established in 1779 as the Supreme Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Virginia is one of the oldest continuously active judicial bodies in the United States.
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining records of a court and administering oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors as well as performing some quasi-secretarial duties. The records management duties of a court clerk including the acceptance of documents for filing with the court to become part of the court's official records, preserving and protecting those records, providing the general public with access to those records, and maintaining the docket, register of actions, and/or minutes of the court which list all filings and events in each case. These duties are important because the availability of legal relief often depends upon the timely filing of documents before applicable deadlines.
The structure of the judiciary of Texas is laid out in Article 5 of the Constitution of Texas and is further defined by statute, in particular the Texas Government Code and Texas Probate Code. The structure is complex, featuring many layers of courts, numerous instances of overlapping jurisdiction, several differences between counties, as well as an unusual bifurcated appellate system at the top level found in only one other state: Oklahoma. Municipal Courts are the most active courts, with County Courts and District Courts handling most other cases and often sharing the same courthouse.
The government of Detroit, Michigan is run by a mayor, the nine-member Detroit City Council, the eleven-member Board of Police Commissioners, and a clerk. All of these officers are elected on a nonpartisan ballot, with the exception of four of the police commissioners, who are appointed by the mayor. Detroit has a "strong mayoral" system, with the mayor approving departmental appointments. The council approves budgets, but the mayor is not obligated to adhere to any earmarking. The city clerk supervises elections and is formally charged with the maintenance of municipal records. City ordinances and substantially large contracts must be approved by the council.
Walter DeKalb Kelley Jr. is an American jurist who served as United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from August 2004 to May 2008.
The Connecticut Superior Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears all matters other than those of original jurisdiction of the Probate Court, and hears appeals from the Probate Court. The Superior Court has 13 judicial districts which have at least one courthouse and one geographical area court. Civil cases, administrative appeals, family matters, and serious criminal offenses are generally heard in a judicial district courthouse. All criminal arraignments, misdemeanors, felonies, and motor vehicle violations that require a court appearance are heard in one of the 20 geographical area courts.
The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest of the 24 circuit courts in the judiciary of Illinois as well as one of the largest unified court systems in the United States – second only in size to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County since that court merged with other courts in 1998.
Courts of Michigan include:
Albert Vickers Bryan was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the father of another federal judge, Albert Vickers Bryan Jr.
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is the California Superior Court located in Los Angeles County. It is the largest single unified trial court in the United States.
The Kentucky Circuit Courts are the state courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Kentucky.
The Superior Court is North Carolina's general jurisdiction trial court. It was established in 1777 and is North Carolina's oldest court.
Business Courts, sometimes referred to as Commercial Courts, are trial courts that primarily or exclusively adjudicate internal business disputes and/or commercial litigation between businesses, heard before specialist judges assigned to these courts. Commercial Courts outside the United States may have broader or narrower jurisdiction than state trial level business and commercial courts within the United States, for example patent or admiralty jurisdiction; and jurisdiction may vary between countries.
Tennessee has 32 judicial districts with a Chancery Court in each district. Some of these 32 districts have legislatively created Probate Courts. If a particular county did not create a special Probate court, the jurisdiction over the probate stays with the Chancery court.
David Bernhard is an American jurist who is a trial judge of the Fairfax Circuit Court, elected February 23, 2017, by the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates, for an 8-year term commencing July 1, 2017. Bernhard is the second immigrant, and the first one from Latin America, to have been elected to the Virginia Circuit Court. Bernhard was sworn into office on June 30, 2017.
Michael Joshua Lindner is a judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit General District Court of Virginia (Fairfax), in the United States, elected February 25, 2015 by the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates, for a 6-year term commencing July 1, 2015. His election was preceded by a selection process wherein candidates were evaluated by the Fairfax Bar Judicial Selection Committee which issued an Executive Summary on his candidacy.
The Solano County Superior Court is the California superior court with jurisdiction over Solano County.
Penney S. Azcarate is the chief judge of the circuit court in Fairfax County, Virginia. Azcarate is best known for presiding over the defamation case brought by actor Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard.