Criminal Docket Information
The current 20th Judicial Circuit: Loudoun County Local Rules and Procedures (PDF) went into effect on April 17, 2023.
Criminal Scheduling Docket:
Scheduling of criminal trials and motions for uncontested continuances will occur on:
- the grand jury return date at 2:00 p.m. (either by direct scheduling on an indictment return or by the filing of a Criminal Scheduling Praecipe); or
- on scheduling dockets specially set by the Court (i.e. jury trial scheduling dockets following approval of the jury trial resumption plan).
A Criminal Praecipe approved by the Court is available at the Clerk’s office and is online below. Except for cases set for trial at return on indictment, the Criminal Praecipe must be filed with the Clerk at least 7 days prior to scheduling.
Thursday Criminal Docket Procedures:
Criminal matters will be scheduled every Thursday according to the following structure:
| Time | Matters |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | Misdemeanor Appeals |
| 10:00 a.m. | Pleas, Sentencings and Revocations |
| 1:00 p.m. | Criminal Motions and other specifically set matters |
Misdemeanor Appeals:
Misdemeanor Appeals will be directly scheduled on any Thursday at 9:00 a.m. by the District Courts at the time of the appeal, but no earlier than 21 days and not later than 60 days after the appeal date. No witnesses will be required to be subpoenaed on the first misdemeanor appeal date; the first date will be for discussion between parties/counsel; possible proposed agreed dispositions; and necessary further scheduling. For misdemeanor appeals that cannot be resolved short of trial, for efficiency of scheduling counsel and self-represented parties are encouraged to communicate in advance regarding time estimates for trial.
Pleas:
At least 7 days prior to the scheduled hearing, parties may file a Criminal Praecipe to docket a plea. For all felony guilty pleas, the Commonwealth must ensure the following has been filed:
- A written plea form or agreement, or both;
- A detailed, written proffer of facts;
- If applicable, initialed copies of proposed amendments to warrants/indictments;
- If applicable, a waiver of indictment signed by the defendant; and
- If applicable, a Certification of Compliance with the Crime Victim and Witness rights Act (Virginia Code §19.2-11.01).
Sentencings/Revocations:
Sentencings and Revocation hearings will be docketed by the court.
Criminal Motions:
All motions are to be placed on the Thursday Motions docket at 1:00 p.m. by Criminal praecipe. For an uncontested motion, a Criminal Praecipe must be filed 7 days prior to the scheduled hearing. For a contested motion, a Criminal Praecipe and the corresponding brief must be filed 14 days prior to scheduled hearing. Motions are limited to 20 minutes total. Should a party believe argument and ruling on a motion will exceed 20 minutes, a time estimate shall be noted on the Criminal Docket Praecipe. Motions exceeding 20 minutes may be specially set in the discretion of the presiding judge.
Praecipe, Motions and any corresponding briefs must be filed 14 days prior to the scheduled hearing for a contested motion. A motion shall concisely set forth the facts relied upon and the relief requested (i.e. no authority). If a motion relies on legal authority, briefs must accompany the motion. Responses must be filed, and shall be filed at least 7 days prior to the scheduled motion.
General Rules:
Due to volume, the Court sua sponte may reassign proposed criminal matters to another Thursday.