Virginia law requires court clerks to prepare a criminal docket before each court term, listing felony and misdemeanor cases in order of indictment or filing. The law also authorizes the issuance of transportation orders for incarcerated defendants and specifies how traffic infractions and juvenile cases are docketed. Cases transferred from juvenile courts are docketed upon indictment return.
Felony cases, misdemeanor cases, traffic infractions, and cases transferred from juvenile courts are included in the criminal docket.
The court shall issue transportation orders upon request, and the clerk or deputy clerk may do so if authorized by the court and all necessary information is provided.
Juvenile cases involving criminal offenses by adults are docketed, but most juvenile and domestic relations cases are not placed on the criminal docket unless specified.
They are docketed upon the return of a true bill of indictment by the grand jury after transfer to circuit court.