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HB 1485

Court of Appeals of Virginia; maximum number of judges, summary disposition of certain civil cases.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Hope and 1 co-sponsor

Increases Virginia Court of Appeals judge positions and creates summary case dismissal procedures to manage civil appellate caseload and reduce delays.

Committee substitute printed 26108371D-S1
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Bill Summary · HB 1485

Legislative bill overview

HB 1485 increases the maximum number of judges on Virginia's Court of Appeals and establishes procedures for summary disposition of certain civil cases. The bill passed the House with substantial support (84-14) and has been revised by the Courts of Justice Committee before moving to budget consideration.

Why is this important

Court capacity directly affects case backlogs and access to justice. Virginia's appellate system handles thousands of cases annually, and judge staffing impacts how quickly citizens and businesses can resolve disputes through the appeals process. This bill addresses whether current judicial resources adequately serve the state's needs.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Adding judges requires state funding for salaries, staff, and facilities, which is why the bill was referred to Finance and Appropriations for budget review
  • Summary disposition procedures: Streamlined case dismissals may expedite dockets but could raise concerns about adequate review of complex legal issues or litigant due process
  • Judicial workload philosophy: Disagreement over whether adding judges or improving efficiency measures is the better solution (reflected in the 5 "no" votes in committee)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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