The court that most people have contact with is the general district court. The general district court handles criminal misdemeanors, violations of local ordinances, traffic infractions, and preliminary hearings in felony charges.
General district courts also have exclusive authority to hear civil cases with claims of $4,500 or less and share authority with the circuit courts to hear cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000. Examples of civil cases are landlord and tenant disputes, contract disputes and personal injury actions.
There is a general district court in each city and county in Virginia. General district court judges are elected by the General Assembly for 6 year terms.
The Fairfax County General District Court has three divisions: Civil/Small Claims, Criminal, and Traffic. A Court Services Division also serves the court by providing supervised release options for defendants pending trial and probation services after conviction.
Fairfax County General District Court, 4110 Chain Bridge Road Fairfax, Virginia 22030
The Fairfax County Courthouse is located in the City of Fairfax near the tall Massey Building. This is just south of the intersection of Rt. 123 (Chain Bridge Road) and Rt. 236 (Main Street or Little River Turnpike).
Public parking is available in Garage B located on Page Avenue, between West Street and Judicial Drive, for a charge of $2.00 per hour with a $10.00 daily maximum. The garage utilizes a pay on foot system for faster exiting. Please remember to take your ticket with you and pay at the parking lobby kiosk before returning to your vehicle. Please allow plenty of time to find parking.
A small surface parking lot located in front of the Massey Building provides accessible parking spaces for those with a DMV permit or plates. Additional permit parking is available in Garage A, located directly behind the Massey Building, but you must ask security to admit you to this restricted lot.
On your day of court, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your assigned court time. It can take awhile to get into the parking garage and may take 20 minutes or more to walk to the Courthouse from the garage and then you must pass through the security check point and metal detectors at the door of the Courthouse. Cell phones, even those with cameras, are now permited in the Courthouse. However, they may not be used in the courtrooms and photography is prohibited throughout the Courthouse.
The General District Court decides civil suits involving amounts of money up to $25,000. However, unlawful detainer (eviction) suits that include a request for rent for commercial or agricultural property can be heard by the general district court even if the amount of rent requested is more than $25,000. A suit is begun by filing a civil warrant or complaint with the clerk of the court and paying a filing fee.
Small claims cases are civil cases in which the plaintiff is seeking a money judgment up to $5,000 or recovery of personal property valued up to $5,000. If a case is filed as a small claims case, the judge conducts the trial in an informal manner so as to do substantial justice between the parties. The judge has the discretion to admit all evidence which may be of probative value although not in accordance with formal rules of practice, procedure, pleading or evidence, except that privileged communications shall not be admissible. The object of such trials shall be to determine the rights of the litigants on the merits and to dispense expeditious justice between the parties.
Topics (redirects to Fairfaxcounty.gov website)
Publications and Resources (redirects to Fairfaxcounty.gov website)
The General District Court decides all criminal offenses involving ordinances, laws, and by-laws of the county or city where it is located and all misdemeanors under state law. A misdemeanor is any charge which carries a penalty of no more than one year in jail or a fine of up to $2,500 or both.
The Code of Virginia defines criminal offenses and sets penalties. For many offenses the penalty described is a fine. The General Assembly has established a processing fee which is charged to every convicted defendant and paid into the State treasury. Any defendant represented by a court appointed attorney or public defender who is convicted must reimburse the court for the representation costs. Additional fees are added for drug violations, courthouse security and maintenance, and a variety of other funds established by the Virginia Assembly.
The District Courts do not conduct jury trials. All cases are heard by a judge. Each defendant in a criminal case is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Upon consideration of evidence the judge decides the question of guilt or innocence. If the defendant is found guilty, the judge will then determine which penalty, as set by the Code, is proper and lawful.
The General District Court also holds preliminary hearings in felony cases, that is, any charge which may be punishable by more than one year in jail. These hearings are held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify holding the defendant for a grand jury hearing. The grand jury determines whether the accused will be indicted and held for trial in the Circuit Court.
Topics (redirects to Fairfaxcounty.gov website)
Resources (redirects to Fairfaxcounty.gov website)
The General District Court decides all traffic offenses involving local ordinances of the county or city where it is located and all traffic misdemeanors under state law. A misdemeanor is any charge which carries a penalty of no more than one year in jail or a fine of up to $2,500 or both.
The Code of Virginia defines traffic offenses and sets penalties. For many offenses the penalty described is a fine. The General Assembly has established a processing fee which is charged to every convicted defendant and paid into the State treasury. Any defendant represented by a court appointed attorney or public defender who is convicted must reimburse the court for the representation costs. Additional fees are added for courthouse security and maintenance and a variety of other funds established by the Virginia Assembly.
The District Courts do not conduct jury trials. All cases are heard by a judge. Each defendant in a traffic case is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Upon consideration of evidence the judge decides the question of guilt or innocence. If the defendant is found guilty, the judge will then determine which penalty, as set by the Code, is proper and lawful.
Topics
