[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6344746,"mediaKeyId","2250267-4c19cabd4eeadbf8f46368963be7b00e","parentId",2250267,"title","Subcommittee reports bill allowing circuit court to appoint guardian ad litem in specified cases","audioSeconds",88,"startMs",493000,"endMs",581000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250267-4c19cabd4eeadbf8f46368963be7b00e&start=493&end=581","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250267-4c19cabd4eeadbf8f46368963be7b00e/thumbnail_493000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6344746/Virginia/Subcommittee-reports-bill-allowing-circuit-court-to-appoint-guardian-ad-litem-in-specified-cases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344746-3e2a00133378a52e0f99d011bca7f3e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183923&Signature=jB45NAKdXgFFFtAzD7MzPtdyCnQR1SuF2tNBcsMbsSWiUfqa7kbA9~kCG0HNyJrb9-McTT6-O5zUky5rW~HJUXh-dYJ138w7vJTBRkQuEUOl1wdjE0Nd29XKHOzKa~wf9TY8rdSdsknUMONSSvyelNU663nijVd3951Q9pXBACgUsrF0N~JAj2UcpvsmRi2TlaONxlf1xj7b9bo0bDcyEUHCEf92HcYUI~YdlkXkBiAHrWZWLKMIQUlrqSKGXP0RpcHqo6sSWLMZas-RSoDiXC6bJBwp6nk8z7Yz4Y7cVYolLXA2J9pq9eK0rSUY1pjcBb5nUps12yjohk8OhUT6EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virginia Legislature","date","2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Barry presented Senate Bill 1277, which would allow circuit courts in specified cases to appoint a guardian ad litem for minor witnesses when the court determines it would be beneficial. The Civil Subcommittee of Courts of Justice reported the bill by a vote of 8 to 0.

Barry told the committee the bill builds on work done earlier this legislative session to permit appointment of guardians ad litem in certain contexts and focuses circuit-court authority on particular case types where a guardian was not appointed at the general district court level. A committee member asked why the authority was limited to particular cases rather than broader use; Barry and staff replied the proposal reflects prioritization of the most serious situations and budgetary considerations.

No speakers registered in opposition appeared during the hearing. The motion to report the bill carried on a roll call showing 8 in favor and none opposed. The subcommittee record indicates the bill will continue through the regular legislative process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Civil Subcommittee Friday, Feb 7, 2025 11:55 AM - 12:06 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 1277, presented by Senator Barry, would permit circuit courts in particular cases to appoint a guardian ad litem for minor witnesses; the Civil Subcommittee reported the measure 8-0 after limited discussion and no public opposition.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature VA, Virginia","taxId",77687,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6344750,"Subcommittee advances bill to raise general district court jurisdiction to $50,000",220,260000,480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250267-4c19cabd4eeadbf8f46368963be7b00e&start=260&end=480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250267-4c19cabd4eeadbf8f46368963be7b00e/thumbnail_260000.jpg","/articles/6344750/Virginia/Subcommittee-advances-bill-to-raise-general-district-court-jurisdiction-to-50000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344750-4985c2b2d5623ed7047f34f7bdc17c27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183923&Signature=ZETvoU~kux5y0XmSEIx9t2zk6xXoZG25a37uBi5A4n~RyBNHl~DiQi8pdAlPobzR1jNKMhuC-hGKidH2dehcPRJUhVwdePnm7i03Nmu7ZQR1j6FwUJQ7AVKi3ZShrDyUt0pTd6CAmIqs4RPDG0X62eoXgssTv5lyv~SOSI-d-y9Ytw5SDoCvX-~ZZPmfP9snICNtTHfSpaAzDYFdKnIslPO5TLYIMfbR3qoNaCU3eaStHh0RCV853nR21JkzNlE~9UeK96HJIe5oKb2nnMwFFcfBGMydID2gQsJnUOarp8Wz4ZZeBvqogCSVSmwU4rCw5EAlYRCbsDz61HFiFrFPHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Civil Subcommittee of Courts of Justice voted unanimously to report a bill from Senator Peake that would raise the jurisdictional limit in general district court to $50,000, expanding the types of cases handled at that level.

Under the sponsor's proposal, cases such as breach of contract, construction disputes, property disputes, promissory notes and loans that are currently heard in circuit court when claims exceed the existing limits would be movable to general district court up to $50,000. Peake said the change would let “you can hear all those things at 50,000 and, people don't have to hire lawyers either.”

Committee members asked about workload implications. Rachel DeGrava, staff attorney at the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) for the Supreme Court, told the subcommittee OES “has no position on the bill.” She said OES filed a fiscal note and, based on 2022–2023 data, estimated about 3,000 cases per year would shift from circuit court to general district court under the proposed limit.

Eric Link, speaking for the Virginia Bar Association, said the bill was developed by the Boyd-Graves Conference in consultation with several general district court judges and that those judges felt comfortable handling the additional workload. Matt Benedetti of the Virginia Credit Association also testified in favor.

After public testimony and questions, the subcommittee voted to report the bill by a roll call showing 8 in favor and none opposed. The bill record indicates it will proceed to further legislative consideration.","Senator Peake's bill to raise the jurisdictional limit in general district court to $50,000 was reported out of the Civil Subcommittee of Courts of Justice 8-0 after testimony from the Office of the Executive Secretary and supporters including the Virginia Bar Association.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6344754,"Subcommittee OKs study, amends bill on pay for retired judges' pretrial work",208,68000,276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250267-4c19cabd4eeadbf8f46368963be7b00e&start=68&end=276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250267-4c19cabd4eeadbf8f46368963be7b00e/thumbnail_68000.jpg","/articles/6344754/Virginia/Subcommittee-OKs-study-amends-bill-on-pay-for-retired-judges-pretrial-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344754-854e98e2122760561967e838fbba7b2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183923&Signature=W4TQhx4lH3n7ZpOrKK6G0See5at9cMkl6N~1eVmM~~tUgOV4UVglOYbhpWI1CXEAEIchZojMCn3ECn3zCVSnIcpaChMYOtRMO5mpkE1jfyJrwtkOswKGTGFGBEL7So9QdAlhc-lCP7DcAr~Z7~irYfE6zTD-pJYwUWMNUnLOmIKjlKSnt7~JC7EtRDAP7H~gEIT9sm~QiARoD4wAa48UbL0Bcjs0dQiGQT2IW8yO2zmlozV2xVnI0iStyzzz-sX7TfrgsLq0jQG~VpJoA05orCvdKI0yF6DtMzakSZ543bLfqBZmRlnV0LopPk~M6acpM~Fi27s9Ns73zTpe4T77Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Peake's bill to address compensation for retired judges and require a study on pay for pretrial review was amended and reported out of the Civil Subcommittee of Courts of Justice on a unanimous voice vote.

The bill, offered by Senator Peake on behalf of a constituent and several retired general district court judges, would seek reimbursement for judges required to attend judicial conferences and would direct a study of pay practices for retired judges who review briefs and memos outside of court. Peake said the measure responds to complaints that retired judges are “mandated to go to the judicial conference and not compensated.” He added that retired judges sometimes read submitted memos while waiting in chambers and “they don't pay me to review memos. They only pay me the day that I actually show up.”

Committee counsel offered a line amendment to resolve competing enactment clauses in the draft; the committee struck one set of enactment-language lines and renumbered provisions before approving the amendment. Counsel explained the change was to avoid duplicative enactment language and that the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) preferred one version of the enactment clause.

No members of the public spoke in favor of or against the measure during the subcommittee hearing. After debate and amendment, the subcommittee voted to report the bill to the next stage. The clerk recorded the bill as reported by a vote of 7 to 0.

The committee record shows the measure as amended will require OES to study how the proposed subsection B would affect the code; the provision would not take effect until the study and any reenactment language in the bill were satisfied. The bill was advanced for further consideration in the legislative process.","The Civil Subcommittee of Courts of Justice amended and reported a bill from Senator Peake that would require study of pay practices for retired judges and address compensation for mandatory judicial conferences; the measure advanced by voice vote and was reported 7-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee reports bill allowing circuit court to appoint guardian ad litem in specified cases

Subcommittee advances bill to raise general district court jurisdiction to $50,000

Subcommittee OKs study, amends bill on pay for retired judges' pretrial work