Virginia Law

As used in Chapters 26, 26.1 and 26.2, unless the context otherwise requires, the term:

"Judgment" includes a decree, order, finding, or award.

"Petitioner" means a party who petitions to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court for an appeal.

"Appellant" means any aggrieved party who has an appeal of right or who has been granted an appeal by the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court.

"Appellate court" means either the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court, or both as the context may indicate.

1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 703.

A party aggrieved by a final decision of the Court of Appeals may petition the Supreme Court for an appeal in accordance with § 17.1-411.

Code 1950, § 8-462; 1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 703; 1997, c. 801; 2002, c. 107; 2005, c. 681; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489.

Repealed by Acts 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489, cl. 2, effective January 1, 2022.

A. When, prior to the commencement of trial, the circuit court has entered in any pending civil action an order granting or denying a plea of sovereign, absolute, or qualified immunity that, if granted, would immunize the movant from compulsory participation in the proceeding, the order is eligible for immediate appellate review. Any person aggrieved by such order may, within 15 days of the entry of such order, file a petition for review with the Supreme Court in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 8.01-626.

B. No petition under this section shall stay proceedings in the circuit court unless the circuit court finds or the Supreme Court orders such a stay upon a finding that (i) the petition could be dispositive of the entire civil action or (ii) there exists good cause, other than the pending petition or appeal, to stay the proceedings.

C. The failure of a party to seek interlocutory review in accordance with this section shall not preclude review of the issue on appeal from a final order. An order by the Supreme Court denying interlocutory review in accordance with this section shall not preclude review of the issue on appeal from a final order, unless the order denying such interlocutory review provides for such preclusion.

2023, c. 741.

A. In cases where an appeal is permitted from the trial court to the Supreme Court, no petition shall be presented for an appeal to the Supreme Court from any final judgment, whether the Commonwealth be a party or not, that was rendered more than 90 days before the petition is presented, provided that an extension may be granted, in the discretion of the Supreme Court, on motion for good cause shown.

B. No appeal to the Supreme Court from a decision of the Court of Appeals shall be granted unless a petition for appeal is filed within 30 days after the date of the decision appealed from. However, an extension may be granted, in the discretion of the court, on motion for good cause shown.

Code 1950, § 8-463; 1977, cc. 2, 617; 1984, c. 703; 2017, cc. 651, 652; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489; 2022, c. 714.

Repealed by Acts 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489, cl. 2, effective January 1, 2022.

A. The Supreme Court may, when a case has before been in an appellate court, inspect the record upon the former appeal; and the court may, in any case, after reasonable notice to counsel in the appellate court, award a writ of certiorari to the clerk of the court below, and have brought before it, when part of a record is omitted, the whole or any part of such record.

B. When an appeal is refused or after it has been allowed and decided, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall return the record to the clerk of the circuit court or other tribunal. The clerk of such court or tribunal shall return the record upon the request of the Clerk of the Supreme Court. As soon as a case is decided, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall cause the appendix and the briefs of counsel to be recorded and preserved in any manner which meets archival standards as recommended by the Archives and Records Division of The Library of Virginia.

The manuscript of the record in a case in which an opinion was delivered prior to 1950 by the Supreme Court upon refusal of an appeal shall not be destroyed and shall be retained by the clerk of such court in his files.

Code 1950, §§ 8-473, 8-501; 1974, c. 532; 1977, cc. 449, 617; 1984, c. 703; 1988, c. 324; 1994, c. 64.

The petition for appeal to the Supreme Court shall be filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The Clerk shall endorse thereon the day and year he received it and shall refer it to one or more justices of the Supreme Court as the Court shall direct. A petition shall, for the purposes of § 8.01-671, be deemed to be timely filed if it is mailed postage prepaid to the Clerk by registered or certified mail and if the official postal receipt therefor is exhibited upon the demand of the Clerk or any party and it shows mailing within the prescribed time limits.

Code 1950, § 8-475; 1976, c. 615; 1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 703.

Repealed by Acts 1984, c. 703, effective Oct. 1, 1984.

After the dismissal of an appeal by the Supreme Court, no other appeal shall be allowed to or from the same judgment. When an appeal is dismissed by reason of the nonpayment of the writ tax within the time required by law, the Court at its first session after such dismissal may on motion of any party for good cause shown and upon payment of such tax set aside the dismissal; and thereupon the appeal may be perfected as though no such dismissal had taken place. A motion under this section shall be made only after reasonable notice to the adverse party or his counsel.

1984, c. 703.

The Supreme Court, on the petition of a party, shall rehear and review any case decided by such court if one of the justices who decides the case adversely to the petitioner certifies that in his opinion there is good cause for such rehearing. However, a notice of a petition for rehearing shall be filed as provided by the Rules of Court and the petition for rehearing shall be filed within thirty days after the entry of the judgment with the clerk, who shall note the date of such filing on the order book. The judgment resulting from any such rehearing shall be entered forthwith by the clerk who shall transmit a certified copy thereof to the clerk of the court below, to be entered by him as provided by § 8.01-685.

1984, c. 703.