Hopewell VA Criminal & Traffic Defense Lawyers 

Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is a limited liability company registered to practice law with the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission. Our attorneys serving Hopewell are licensed to practice law by the Virginia State Bar. We represent clients every week before the Hopewell VA Courts. Our law firm is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell and recognized as a “Best Law Firm” according to U.S. News and World Reports for the highest level of professional excellence in legal ability and ethical standards. The Martindale-Hubbell and Best Lawyers publications are distinguished, established organizations that publish reliable information regarding lawyers and law firms.

Hopewell VA Circuit Court

Clerk Hon. Tamara J. Ward Phone/Fax Phone: (804) 541-2239 Fax: (804) 541-2438

Clerk’s Office Hours 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Address 100 E. Broadway Room 251 Hopewell, VA 23860-2715

Circuit Judges

• Hon. William Allan Sharrett, Presiding Judge
• Hon. William Edward Tomko III, Chief Judge
• Hon. Carson E. Saunders Jr.

Terms of Court and General Information

• Terms begin, 2nd Tuesday, Feb., Apr., June, Aug., Oct., & Dec.
• Motions Day, 2nd and 4th Fridays.
• Grand Juries, 1st day of Term.
• Civil cases set by praecipe.
• Civil Court convenes 9:00 a.m.
• Criminal Court convenes 9:00 a.m.
• Commissioners in Chancery are utilized in partition suits.
• Instructions must be submitted 5 days prior to trial.
• Local rules adopted pursuant to Section 8.01-4.
• Final Orders will be mailed to all counsel of record and any unrepresented party as soon as they have been entered by the Judge. The preferred practice is to submit self-addressed, stamped envelopes for the return of the certified copies of the Final Order. However, this office will always mail and provide certified copies to all parties whether an envelope has been provided to us or has not been provided to us.

Hopewell VA General & Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts

Clerk Ms Ellen Taylor Chiasson Phone/Fax Phone: (804) 541-2257 Fax: (804) 541-2364

Clerk’s Office Hours 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Address 100 East Broadway Hopewell, VA 23860

General District Judges

• Hon. Bruce A. Clark Jr., Presiding Judge, Chief Judge
• Hon. Elbert D. Mumphery, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Churchill Ridley Bain
• Hon. Lyndia P. Ramsey
• Hon. Harold Lee Townsend III

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judges

• Hon. Jacqueline R. Waymack, Presiding Judge, Chief Judge
• Hon. Christopher B. Ackerman, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Wallace W. Brittle Jr., Presiding Judge

Court Schedule

General District
   Monday: Criminal Docket
     8:30 a.m., Bonded Arraignments/ Protective Orders
     9:00 a.m., Video arraignments/bond hearings
     9:30 a.m., Trials/non-attorney cases
     10:00 a.m., Trials/attorney cases
   2nd Monday
     1:00 p.m., City Code Enforcement Cases
     2:00 p.m., Animal Control Cases
   Tuesday - Police Dept. Traffic Docket
     8:30 a.m., Bonded arraignments
     9:00 a.m., Video Arraignments/ Bond Hearings / Non-Attorney 
        Trial Docket
     10:00 a.m., Attorney Docket / Trials
     11:00 a.m., Protective Orders
   Wednesday - Civil Docket
     9:00 a.m., Attorney Cases
     10:00 a.m., Non-attorney cases
     11:00 a.m., Contested cases
     11:30 a.m., Protective Orders
   Thursday - Sheriff's Docket
     8:30 a.m., Bonded arraignments
     9:00 a.m., Video arraignments/bond hearings
     9:30 a.m., Non-attorney public docket
     11:30 a.m., Protective Orders
     1:00 p.m., Attorney Hopewell VA cases
   Friday
     10:00 a.m., Protracted civil cases

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
   1st Monday of Month
     9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., DSS/Foster care cases
     1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., DSS/Foster care cases
   Tuesday: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
     8:30 a.m., Bonded Arraignments
     9:00 a.m., Protective Orders
     9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Support/Custody/Visitation Cases
     1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.,  Video Arraignments/Bond Hearings/ 
        Contested Support/Custody/Visitation cases
   Wednesday: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
     8:30 a.m., Bonded arraignments
     9:00 a.m., Protective orders
     9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Support/custody/visitation cases
     1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Video Arraignments/bond hearings/ 
        contested support/ custody/visitation cases
   Thursday
     8:30 a.m., Bonded arraignments
     9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Adult/juvenile criminal trials
     1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., Video Arraignments/ Bond Hearings  / 
        Dispositional cases
     2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Adult/juvenile criminal trials
   Friday: 2nd & 4th
     8:30 a.m., Bonded arraignments
     9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m., Protective orders
     10:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm.m, DCSE support cases
     1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Video Arraignments/ Bond Hearings/ DCSE 
        support cases

Continuance Policy

First continuance granted by Clerk; subsequently granted by Judge.

11/05/2015 | Updated 10/16/2024