15.2-3822 - Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction.
§ 15.2-3822. Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction.
A. Any attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, or sheriffwho performed his duties and had jurisdiction in both a city and a countyprior to July 1, 1979, under provisions of this chapter in effect prior tothat date, shall continue to serve both localities until (i) the city ceasesto share such positions in accordance with the provisions of general law or(ii) the city is transferred in accordance with the provisions of §§16.1-69.6 and 17.1-506 to a judicial circuit and district which is comprisedof a county other than the circuit and district where the city was situated.Until such declaration or transfer is made, the qualified voters residing inthe city may vote for these officers at the general election for countyofficers.
B. Upon the effective date of the transfer referred to in clause (ii) ofsubsection A, the judges of the circuit court for the county in the judicialcircuit to which the city was transferred shall appoint the attorney for theCommonwealth and clerk of the circuit court for that adjoining county. If thecity has a locally elected city sheriff, the city sheriff shall be the onlysheriff for the city. The city may contract with the county to which it wastransferred for jail facilities. If the effective date of the transfer is totake place within 120 days after an election for the clerk of the circuitcourt or attorney for the Commonwealth in the county to which the city istransferred, the voters of the city shall be entitled to vote in the electionfor each officer. The voting wards or precincts of the city shall be treatedas precincts of the adjoining county and no candidate for these offices shallbe required to qualify separately in the city. The qualified voters of thecity shall thereafter be entitled to vote for these officers.
C. If the situation in either clause (i) or (ii) of subsection A occurs, then:
1. As to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the citybefore the effective date of the transfer, the circuit court for the formerjudicial circuit shall have jurisdiction; and
2. As to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the city onor after the effective date of the transfer involving a matter required bygeneral law to be located in a circuit court, the circuit court for thejudicial circuit to which the city was transferred shall have jurisdiction.
D. All writings authorized by law to be recorded in the circuit court for thecity transferred pursuant to clause (ii) of subsection A shall be recorded inthe circuit court to which the city was transferred beginning on theeffective date of the transfer.
(1980, c. 592, § 15.1-994.1; 1987, c. 624; 1997, c. 587.)