For Felony Docket Procedures See Related Information on Right
Required Bail Order
The Court has developed an order form for use by Counsel when submitting a bail order. This order is available in a fillable .pdf format under Related Documents on the right.
Counsel may contact the jail to verify the charges the defendant is in custody on at
(757) 385-8563 before preparing the order.
Rules and Procedures on Noting Bond Appeal from District Court to Circuit Court
A written Notice of Appeal must be filed in the district court. The notice shall provide the date of the bond hearing being appealed and the charge(s). NOTE: The Notice of Bond Appeal is not filed in the circuit court. A Notice of Appeal form has been prepared and is available in the clerk’s offices of the district courts and under Related Information on this page.
The district court will make copies of the warrant, magistrate sheet, commitment order and any other papers that relate to the bond hearing, and deliver such papers to the circuit court (along with the filed notice of appeal) no later than the next business day.
A hearing shall automatically be set on the Circuit Court Docket at 9:30 a.m. 3 business days from the date the notice of appeal is filed in the district court unless a holiday or court closed then on the next business day. Counsel must contact the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to reschedule or change the hearing day.
NOTE: The appeal notice must be either personally delivered or transmitted by facsimile to the district court prior to 4:00 p.m. A facsimile transmission completed after 4:00 p.m. shall be deemed filed on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
Rules and Procedure on Presentence Reports
The standard format for presentence reports will be the "short form". The goal is to make the sentencing process more efficient, since the short form is less detailed. The "long form" (which includes family history) presentence report will be prepared only if requested by the court or counsel.