CHAPTER 524

An Act to amend and reenact § 24-158, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to election or temporary appointment of additional
justices of the peace in counties, and to the appointment of additional
justices of the peace in certain counties.

[H 517]

Approved March 31, 1962

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 24-158, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 24-158. Whenever a circuit court shall be of opinion that the public
service requires a greater number of justices of the peace in any district
than those specified in the preceding section, and shall so enter of record
and designate the number of such additional officers, notice thereof shall
be published in such district, and at the next succeeding general election
for district officers, such additional officers shall be elected in the mode
prescribed for the election of district officers, and continue to be elected at
each succeeding general election of district officers until otherwise ordered
by the court. And it shall be lawful for the court to appoint officers to serve
until such additional officers are elected and qualified. Such officers,
whether elected or appointed, shall qualify and give bond as prescribed for
district officers. The court may, in its discretion, revoke the order requir-
ing such additional officers, such revocation to take effect at the expira-
tion of the terms of such officers.

In any county having a population of more than fourteen thousand,
nine hundred but not more than fifteen thousand, and in any county having
a population of more than twenty-five thousand but less than twenty-six
thousand, and in any county having a population of more than thirty-one
thousand two hundred but less than thirty-one thousand four hundred and
an any county having a population of more than seventeen thousand but less
than seventeen thousand two hundred, whenever a circuit court shall be
of opinion that the public service requires a greater number of justices
of the peace in any district than those specified in the preceding section,
it shall be lawful for the court to appoint such additional officers. Such
officers when so appointed, shall qualify and give bond as prescribed for
district officers. The term of office of any officer so appointed shall be from
the date of his qualification until the thirty-first day of December of the
year in which the next succeeding general election, following his appoint-
ment, is held for district officers. The court may, in its discretion, revoke
the order appointing or requiring such additional officers, such revocation
to take effect at the expiration of the terms of such officers.

2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.