Meet the New Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Without trumpet or even modest fanfare, the 1981 Virginia General Assembly passed two new subsections to Title 16.1 of the Code of Virginia, amending the jurisdiction of the juvenile and domestic relations district courts (hereinafter cited as J & DR). Despite their uncontroversial passage, they portend significant changes for the J & DR court and the circuit court as well, and have generated surprise and bewilderment among the J & DR court judges. This article explores the meaning of the amendments and their longterm implications.