Chap. 7.—An ACT creating a judicial council in Virginia for the purpose of
considering and recommending needed changes in the rules of practice of the
courts of the Commonwealth, and the improvement and = simplification of
the administration of justice, and defining its other duties, and providing for
the payment of its actual expenses. [S B 8]

Approved February 8, 1928

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it
shall be the duty of the president of the supreme court of appeals
of Virginia, or in case of his disability, of one of the judges of the
supreme court, in order of their semority, to summon annually to
a judicial council, on the first Wednesday in December, at Rich-
mond, or at stich other time and place in the State as may be
designated in the said summons, not less than three nor more than
five circuit judges, and not less than two nor more than three of
the judges of other courts of record, and ten members of the bar
of the supreme court of appeals, one from each congressional dis-
trict of the State.

If for any cause the judges so summoned are unable to attend,
the president of the supreme court or the judge calling the council,
may fill their places by summoning any other judges of courts of
record who are able to attend. It shall be the duty of every judge
thus summoned to attend said conference and to remain through-
out its proceedings, unless excused by the presiding judge, and to
advise as to any matters in respect of which in their opinion the
administration of justice in the courts of this Commonwealth may
be improved. If any member of the bar thus summoned cannot
attend he shall forthwith notify the presiding judge, and his place
shall be filled by summoning some other member of said. bar.
Each judge of a court of record of this Commonwealth shall. on or
before the first day of October in each year, prepare and submit to
the president of the supreme court of appeals for the consideration
of the council, a report showing the condition of business in his
court for the preceding twelve months. including the nurhber and
character of cases on the docket, the business in arrears, and cases
disposed of, and such other facts pertinent to the business dis-
patched and pending in his court. together with recommendations
as to the need of additional judicial assistance for the disposal of
business for the ensuing vear, as said judge may deem proper.

2. The president of the supreme court or the judge summon-
ing the council as aforesaid, shall be the presiding officer of the
council. Said council shall make a comprehensive survey of the
condition of business in the courts of the Commonwedlth, and
make recommendations for the improvement of the administration
of justice, and shall particularly report as to needed changes in
the rules of practice and procedure in the several courts of the
Commonwealth.

3. Each member of the council shall serve without compensa-
tion. but the presiding judge may engage a stenographer to be paid
for his services, and he and each member of the council summoned
and attending said council shall be allowed his actual expenses of
travel, and alsg his necessary expenses for subsistence while at-
tending the council, which shall be paid out of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated, on the order of the judge
nresiding at the council.

4. On the request of the presiding judge the attorney veneral
shall attend said council and confer with the members thereof,
more particularly on the Commonwealth's business in the courts,
and for the purpose of devising methods for the prevention of
undue delay in the trial of such cases.

5. A report of the proceedings of said council shall be made to
the | governor and to the supreme court of appeals, with such recom-
mendations as may be agreed upon.