Person not free on bail; court appearance, right to counsel.
About This Bill
Latest Action · Jul 21, 2026
Continued from last session
Session
2027
Introduced
Jan 2, 2026
Primary Sponsor
Katrina Callsen· primary
Summary
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A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-158 and 19.2-159 of the Code of Virginia, relating to court appearance of a person not free on bail.
Court appearance of a person not free on bail. Makes various changes to provisions regarding bail hearings in jurisdictions having a public defender office, including (i) the appointment of counsel for the accused and (ii) a requirement that counsel for the accused, when practicable, be provided with adequate time to confer with the accused prior to any bail hearing. The bill also allows a jurisdiction that does not have a public defender office establish to implement such provisions. The bill provides that, effective in due course, the chief judge in each circuit shall create a plan to be completed by November 1, 2026, that establishes the means by which the jurisdiction will meet such provisions. The remaining provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.