19.2-241 - Time within which court to set criminal cases for trial.

§ 19.2-241. Time within which court to set criminal cases for trial.

The judge of each circuit court shall fix a day of his court when the trialof criminal cases will commence, and may make such general or special orderin reference thereto, and to the summoning of witnesses, as may seem proper,but all criminal cases shall be disposed of before civil cases, unless thecourt shall direct otherwise.

When an indictment is found against a person for felony or when an appeal hasbeen perfected from the conviction of a misdemeanor or traffic infraction,the accused, if in custody, or if he appear according to his recognizance,may be tried at the same term and shall be tried within the time limits fixedin § 19.2-243; provided that no trial shall be held on the first day of theterm unless it be with consent of the attorney for the Commonwealth and theaccused and his attorney.

(Code 1950, §§ 19.1-188 through 19.1-190; 1960, c. 366; 1972, c. 705; 1975,c. 495; 1977, c. 585; 1978, c. 410.)