Fauquier County Circuit Court

General Information

The Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Virginia; this means that the Court has authority to try a full range of cases both criminal and civil.

In civil cases the Circuit Court has jurisdiction in claims for money, such as personal injury cases and unpaid debts. These cases are called actions at law. The Circuit Court also has jurisdiction over all equity matters, including divorce cases, disputes concerning wills and estates, and controversies involving property.

In criminal cases, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over the trial of all felonies (offenses that may be punished by commitment to the State penitentiary) and some misdemeanors.

The Circuit Court has appellate jurisdiction over all appeals from the General District Court in civil and criminal cases and from juvenile and domestic relations court in domestic and criminal cases.

The Circuit Court has the authority to impanel grand juries. Regular grand juries are convened at each term of court to consider indictments prepared by the Commonwealth's Attorney to determine whether there is probable cause that the person accused has committed the crime charged in the indictment and should stand trial.

The Circuit Court also has the authority to make appointments to certain county boards and to appoint church trustees.

Neutral Case Evaluation (NCE):

The Circuit Court offers a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution called Neutral Case Evaluation (NCE) where parties and their counsel meet at the Circuit Court, about 30 days before trial, for a settlement conference with a trained, senior attorney.  The volunteer NCE attorneys assess the strengths and weaknesses of Personal Injury, Tort and Contract cases and renders their opinion based on the merits of the case and its likely outcome.

The Circuit Court will require that counsel and parties file the appropriate NCE Case Selection Form (either domestic or civil/non-domestic) at the time they request that the case be scheduled for trial. 

If you would like more information about NCE, you may contact Jodi Hitt Nash, Esquire, at 40 Culpeper St., Warrenton, Va. 20186. The phone number is 540-428-2210.