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Trial in General District Court
The Initial Charge
The majority of criminal cases in the Commonwealth of Virginia are initiated when a magistrate issues a warrant for an individual's arrest after finding probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. Some charges are brought directly by a Grand Jury after they have been presented with evidence of the crime.Arraignment/First Appearance
At his first appearance, a defendant is advised of the charge against him and, where there is the potential for a jail sentence, he is advised by the judge that he has the right to be represented by counsel. Typically, if he indicates that he would like to hire his own attorney he is given time to do so. Where an individual is found by the court to be unable to afford his own attorney, the court will provide an attorney for that individual with the understanding that if the individual is found guilty he will be required to pay court-appointed attorneys' fees as part of his court costs. If the individual is found not guilty there is no charge for the court-appointed attorney.
Depending on the procedure of the individual court at initial appearance, the judge will set a bond in order to ensure a defendant's appearance at trial.
Trial in General District Court
Where an individual is charged with a misdemeanor or traffic offense, the second appearance is usually the trial date. The Commonwealth will present its case against the defendant. The defendant, or his counsel, will then have the opportunity to cross-examine prosecution witnesses and to present witnesses on his own behalf. At the conclusion of the case the court will make a determination of guilt and, in cases where the defendant is found guilty, he will be sentenced.
Where an individual is charged with a felony, his hearing in General District Court is not a trial but rather a preliminary hearing. While many of the procedures are the same as at trial, the court does not ask for a plea of guilty or not guilty. Moreover, at the conclusion of the case the court simply makes a finding of probable cause and, where probable cause is found, the matter is certified to the grand jury for trial in Circuit Court. If probable cause is not found the felony is dismissed or reduced to a misdemeanor.
Arraignment in Circuit Court
Once a matter is certified by a General District Court judge, an indictment is returned by the grand jury and the defendant is required to make an appearance in Circuit Court. At that time the Circuit Court will set a date for trial on the felony.
A small percentage of charges in the Commonwealth of Virginia begin in the Circuit Court as the result of a "direct indictment." The prosecution can present their evidence directly to a grand jury, without going through a magistrate or a General District Court. If the grand jury finds probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, they can return an indictment against the defendant. The defendant will then be arrested on that indictment and brought directly before a Circuit Court judge where his bond will be set, counsel appointed, and a trial date set. In cases where a felony has been dismissed at preliminary hearing by the General District Court, the Commonwealth's Attorney may still seek a direct indictment from a grand jury.
Finally, an individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or traffic offense in General District Court has an absolute right to appeal the matter to the Circuit Court. In those cases, and depending on the procedure of the particular Circuit Court, the defendant will either report to the Circuit Court for trial or for a first appearance at which time a date for trial will be set.
Circuit Court Trial
In the Circuit Court, similar to the General District Court, the defendant will enter a formal plea to the charge and then be tried. At trial the prosecution will present its case and the defendant will have the opportunity to cross-examine prosecution witnesses and to call witnesses on his own behalf. However, unlike the district court, either the prosecution, the defendant or the court can request that the evidence be heard by a jury rather than by a judge. At the conclusion of the trial, the fact finder, either a judge or jury, will make a finding of guilt.
Sentencing
If a defendant is found guilty of a felony by a jury, the jury will then hear evidence that the court finds relevant to the issue of sentence. After hearing evidence from both the prosecution and the defendant the jury will once again deliberate and return with a sentence. The court will then continue the matter so that a pre-sentence report can be prepared and the court will impose sentence at a later date. While the court is not bound by the recommendation of the jury, the court may suspend a portion of a jury's sentence but most Circuit Courts in the Commonwealth will follow the jury's recommendation. If the defendant has been found guilty of a felony by a judge, the judge will order a pre-sentence report and impose sentencing after hearing evidence relevant to sentencing at a later date.
Show Causes
In addition to the sentence imposed for a particular conviction, a defendant may be subject to the imposition of previously suspended time on a previous charge. If a defendant receives an additional conviction while on probation, the court that convicted him of the charge for which he is on probation will often issue a "show cause" for him to return to that court and explain why suspended time should not be imposed.
When a defendant is found guilty after having pled not guilty in Circuit Court, he is entitled to appeal his case to the Virginia Court of Appeals and to the Supreme Court. The defendant must be sure to notify the Circuit Court clerk's office of his intention to appeal within thirty (30) days of the final order of his conviction. Any conviction in General District Court, regardless of the plea, may be appealed to the Circuit Court provided that the General District Court clerk's office is notified of the defendant's intention to appeal within 10 days of the conviction.
