Title: Magistrate - Patrick County (Stuart)

State Role Title: Salary Non-Specified

Hiring Range: Commensurate with Experience

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Supreme Court

Location: Patrick County

Agency Website: www.vacourts.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Commonwealth of Virginia has one opening for a magistrate position in Magisterial Region 2. A Magistrate is appointed to a Region and may be assigned anywhere within the Region. A magistrate is an independent judicial officer appointed by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Magisterial Region 2 is comprised of the Counties of Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Highland, Nelson, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Roanoke, Rockbridge; and the Cities of Bedford, Buena Vista, Covington, Danville, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, and Waynesboro. A Magistrate may be required to work throughout a Magisterial Region. The primary assignment for this position will be in the Patrick area of the 21sth Judicial District. The magistrate must possess a fundamental working knowledge of Virginia civil and criminal law and demonstrate an ability to impartially and efficiently apply that knowledge in the resolution of legal issues.

A Magistrate is a judicial officer appointed by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. A Magistrate’s duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Conducting neutral and impartial hearings relating to searches, arrests, bail, temporary detentions, and civil issues
• Conducting legal research and analysis
• Ascertaining facts and applying them to relevant legal principles
• Maintaining order and decorum in highly charged, sensitive circumstances
• Receiving and accounting for money
• Issuing arrest warrants and summonses for criminal offenses and other violations of Virginia law;
• Issuing search warrants;
• Conducting bail hearings and admitting persons charged with criminal offenses to bail or committing them to jail;
• Issuing Emergency Protective Orders;
• Issuing mental health and medical custody and detention orders; and
• Performing other acts or functions authorized by law.

Magistrate offices are open 7 days per week 24 hours per day, including weekends and holidays. The work schedule has rotating shifts that include weekends and holidays. Magistrates work under the supervision of a Chief Magistrate. This position offers a competitive benefits package which includes vacation and sick leave, paid state and federal holidays, health insurance, retirement benefits, life insurance, deferred compensation, and short-term and long-term disability benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

Under § 19.2-37 of the Code of Virginia, a Magistrate must be a United States citizen, be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Please review § 19.2-37 to ensure you are eligible for appointment as a Magistrate.

Additional Considerations

All candidates are subject to a criminal history background check. Proof of U.S. citizenship and Virginia residency must be provided.

Transcripts for all undergraduate and post-graduate education must be provided before the start of employment.

A successful applicant must possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Fluency in written and spoken English with strong communications skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact in a professional manner with coworkers, complainants, petitioners, and witnesses, including law enforcement officers;
• Strong reading comprehension skills;
• Ability to research and interpret the Code of Virginia and other legal resources;
• Ability to conduct judicial hearings in a neutral and impartial manner;
• Ability to ascertain facts from oral testimony and written submissions and apply them to relevant legal principles;
• Ability to properly account for funds; and
• General computer proficiency and typing skills.

A successful applicant may also:
• Possess relevant legal experience, training, or education; and/or
• Be a member of Virginia State Bar.

Magistrates are subject to the Canons of Conduct for Virginia Magistrates. See http://www.courts.state.va.us/courtadmin/aoc/mag/resources/canons.pdf.

If not previously certified as a magistrate, the successful candidate must attend an intensive training course which focuses on Virginia law and procedure, pass a written examination, and complete a certification process that includes supervised on-the-job training. Overnight travel may be required for students outside the Richmond area.

Under § 19.2-37 of the Code of Virginia, no person appointed as a magistrate on or after July 1, 2008, may engage in the practice of law.

Special Instructions

All applications and required materials must be submitted online. You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Regional Descriptions

Region 1 includes Lee, Wise, Scott, Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell, Tazewell, Washington, Smyth, Bland, Giles, Grayson, Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery, Carroll, and Floyd Counties and the Cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Radford. Principal offices are in Christiansburg, Wytheville, Hillsville, Dublin, Bristol, Marion, Lebanon, Tazewell, Jonesville, Duffield, and Wise.

Region 2 includes Patrick, Henry, Pittsylvania, Campbell, Amherst, Roanoke, Craig, Bedford, Botetourt, Alleghany, Rockbridge, Bath, Nelson, Augusta, and Highland Counties and the Cities of Martinsville, Danville, Salem, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Buena Vista, Lexington, Covington, Waynesboro, and Staunton. Principal offices are in Martinsville, Danville, Roanoke, Salem, Lynchburg, Augusta County, Patrick County, Rocky Mount, Bedford County, Madison Heights, Rustburg, Fincastle, Bath County, Highland County, and Covington.

Region 3 includes Halifax, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Greensville, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Appomattox, Prince Edward, Nottoway, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Buckingham, Cumberland, Powhatan, Amelia, Chesterfield, Prince George, and Surry Counties and the Cities of Emporia, Hopewell, and Petersburg. Principal offices are in Alberta, North Prince George, Emporia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Boydton, Charlotte Court House, Halifax, Lunenburg, Farmville, Amelia Court House, Dinwiddie, Powhatan, Nottaway, Petersburg, and Chesterfield.

Region 4 includes Albemarle, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa, Greene, Rockingham, Madison, Orange, Shenandoah, Page, Nelson, Culpeper, Warren, Rappahannock, Fauquier, Frederick, Clark, and Loudoun Counties and the Cities of Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Winchester. Principal offices are in Albemarle, Fluvanna, Culpeper, Goochland, Louisa, Orange, Warrenton, Leesburg, Harrisonburg, Front Royal, Winchester, Luray, and Woodstock.

Region 5 includes Prince William, Fairfax, and Arlington Counties and the Cities of Fairfax, Alexandria, and Manassas. Principal offices are in Arlington, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, Fairfax, Woodbridge, and Manassas.

Region 6 includes Caroline, Charles City, Essex, Gloucester, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland, and York Counties and the Cities of Richmond, Poquoson, Fredericksburg, and Williamsburg. Principal offices are in James City, New Kent, Gloucester, Charles City, Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and King George.

Region 7 includes Accomack and Northampton Counties and the Cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. Principal offices are in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Accomack, and Eastville.

Region 8 includes Southampton and Isle of Wight Counties and the Cities of Franklin, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, and Newport News. Principal offices are in Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, and Newport News.

Contact Information

Name: Tina M. Jackson

Phone: No Calls

Email: humanresources@vacourts.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.