15.2-2654 - Reply by party defendant; intervention by interested parties; determination of questions; orders; precedence over other business.
§ 15.2-2654. Reply by party defendant; intervention by interested parties;determination of questions; orders; precedence over other business.
Any party defendant may reply to the motion for judgment within ten daysafter its second publication as required by §§ 15.2-2652 and 15.2-2653 butnot thereafter. Any property owner, taxpayer, citizen or other person ininterest may become a party to the proceedings by pleading to the motion forjudgment on or before the time set for hearing as provided by § 15.2-2652 or§ 15.2-2653, or such earlier time as may be specified in the order of thecourt, or thereafter by intervention upon leave of the court. At the time andplace designated in the order for the hearing as provided for in § 15.2-2652or § 15.2-2653, the judge shall proceed to hear and determine all questionsof law and fact in the proceeding and may make such orders as to theproceeding and such adjournments as will enable the judge properly to try anddetermine the proceeding and to render a final decree with the least possibledelay. The proceeding shall take precedence over all other business of thecourt.
(Code 1950, § 15-666.58; 1958, c. 640; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-217; 1991, c.668, § 15.1-227.56; 1997, c. 587.)