R-13-05 RESOLUTION NO. R-13-05
RESOLUTION REGARDING CITY GENERAL DISTRICT COURT OPERATI INS
WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly has declined to fill two
County ing j DCI l
vacancies in the Fairfax County General District Court
esultin in a reduction in the size of the bench of the Fairfax County GDC despite .nnual
r g
increases in cases handled by the Fairfax County GDC; an
WHEREAS, when the General Assembly reorganized f the General Assembly t� retain
system in 1972, it was (and remains) the specific intent applicable e retain
General District Courts in cities and towns subject to the provisions of a GDC") is one e of those
authority, and the City of Fairfax General District Court (the "City
mandated statutory courts; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the City GDC, the judges of the Fairfax County G II C hear
cases in the Vienna Division General District Court and the Hn n Doivisi c��seneral
District Court, and such operations have resulted in efficiencies and
convenience to citizens of each of the respective jurisdictionsGDC over the yeardi and
1 duction
in the impact on traffic and operations at the Fairfax County
WHEREAS. the City has been made aware that, e to the eneral a p s bl 's
declining to fill existing judicial vacancies in the Fairfax County
Herndon) and that they may seek to
that the judges of the Fairfax County GDC may decide to no longer sit in the City G C (or in
the satellite courts in the Towns of Vienna and He ) (which they
is not thin the
consolidate court operations into the to a ontinuingrannual increase in cases in each of the
municipal boundaries of the City) d p planned action; and
subject jurisdictions. and regardless of the legality of such p
WHEREAS. transferring all cases currently heard inthe the
c t City
yns oDf the C'ty and an
Fairfax an
Judicial Center will result in detriment and nci all enn overtime costs required to ave City
increase in personnel costs to the City, p p Y
police officers attend court hearings conducted on dockets that will likely
tr be mo e lengthy
and ing cases
and unpredictable in terms of timing, and that any perceived
triment
from the City GDC and the satellite courts will be morethe by such FairdxeC qty
and inconvenience and the resulting increase in traffic and caseload at
GDC; and
WHEREAS. the Mayor, the City Council, the Chief of Police,
the City M nager, the
r of cases
Cit y Attorney and the City Prosecutor are unanimous innheir opiniodntt tt trans ons should
from the City GDC to the Fairfax Judicial Center should
continue uninterrupted at the City GDC, for the reasons articulated above, and
WHEREAS. the City Council expresses its support for continued oper ions at the
Vienna and Herndon satellite courts, for the same reasons as articulated above.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. The City Council affirms that a core function of government
in to ensure
there are legal
rights of all citizens, and that a locality-based judicial system an
adequate number of judges to handle the business of the courts is essential to
preserve respect for law and the safety of the community; and
2. The City Council expresses its support and appreciation for the work of the judges
of the Fairfax County GDC, who have been good partners with the C ty in hearing
cases at the City GDC, a relationship which has worked effective) , and to the
benefit of all involved, for many years; and
3. The City Council firmly opp oses an y attempt by the judges of the Fairfax County
GDC to transfer cases from the City GDC to the Fairfax Judicial Center; and
f
4. The City Council expresses its support for the Town o of cases Vienna and the s wn of
Herndon in their respective opposition to any transfer
courts to the Fairfax Judicial Center; and
5. The City Council respectfully requests that thhGovernor v judicial ial va ancies currently
Virginia and the General Assembly fund J
existing in the Fairfax County GDC; and
6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
Adopted this 12th day of March, 2013.
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
The vote on the motion to approve was recorded as follows:
VOTE:
Councilman DeMarco
Councilman Drummond
Councilman Greenfield
Councilman Meyer
Councilmember Schmidt
Councilman Stombres
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