Your Court Appearance
- What you need to know about your Court appearances:
• The scheduled time of your appearance is on your paperwork. You must appear on time. If you do not appear on time, the Judge could issue a show cause or a warrant for your arrest for failing to appear.
• You should allow for extra travel time when you are coming to the Courthouse. Traffic downtown is often heavy and slow. If you are taking public transportation, allow extra time because buses do not run frequently. You also need time to park and walk to the Courthouse. Refer to the web site for directions to the Courthouse and for parking instructions.
• Although your case is scheduled for a specific time, you may be at the Courthouse for several hours. Several cases are docketed for the same time. Because many people can be involved in a case, it may take a while for that case to be ready to be presented to the Judge. Sometimes cases go to trial and other cases get delayed. Be prepared with something to occupy your time.
- What NOT to bring to Court:
• As you enter the courthouse, you will go through a screening process conducted by a Sheriff's Deputy.
• The process includes screening of all cases and purses brought into the building as well as a "walk through" screening. ALL prohibited items MUST be left outside the courthouse. Sheriff's Deputies WILL NOT hold or take any responsibility for items left outside the courthouse.
**PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY OF THE PROHIBITED ITEMS WITH YOU**
• Unless you have been given permission by the Judge or Clerk, do not bring cell phones, lap top computers, tape recorders, radios, cameras, ipods, video games, walk-man, DVD and CD players, etc. into the Courthouse.
• If you need an electronic device for the purpose of providing evidence to the Court, please see the Clerk in advance and get written permission to bring the electronic device into the Courthouse.
• The Court prohibits ANYTHING that could be used as a weapon including, but not limited to: (1) knives, (2) pepper gas, (3) mace, (4) tools, (5) sharp objects including scissors and knitting needles, (6) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind, (7) muffler, silencer, missile, projectile or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon and (8) any other dangerous weapon, including explosives, stun weapons as defined in § 18.2-308.1, and those weapons specified in subsection A of § 18.2-308.
**There is NO SMOKING in the Courthouse**
- What to wear to Court and how to act:
• You should wear appropriate, non-revealing clothing.
• You should not wear clothing that has drug, criminal or sexual references. If in doubt, leave it at home.
• If you need an interpreter, ask at the beginning of the hearing.
• If you don’t understand something, ask the Judge to explain it to you.
• Do not curse.
• Do not interrupt another speaker unless you are making a legal objection such as hearsay, best evidence rule, chain of custody, etc. Please note, you will be required to state the reason for the objection.
• Each of the parties to the case will be given an opportunity to speak. Witnesses will only be allowed to answer questions that are asked by one of the parties or attorneys.
• Witnesses may be excluded from the Courtroom. If you are excluded, you can not discuss your testimony or any aspect of the case with anyone except for one of the attorneys.
• Bring with you to each hearing all of the paperwork or other exhibits that you want the Judge to review. Do not assume that the Judge will remember what was presented or said at a prior hearing. You may have a different Judge.
• Read the Order in your case. If there is an error in the Order, notify your attorney or the Court immediately.