CHAP. 347.—An ACT to define and punish barratry.
Approved March 1, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly’ of Virginia, That
any person licensed to practice law in any of the courts of this
commonwealth, who shall solicit, procure or induce, or become
a party to soliciting, procuring or inducing any suit or action
to be brought, any petition to be filed, or any motion to be
made against the state of Virginia, or any citizen thereof, b
verbal representations, or by writing or printing, shall be deemed
guilty of the offence of barratry.

2. That when, upon the complaint of the state, through any
of its officers, or of any other party defendant in a suit or pe-
tition, it shall appear to the commonwealth’s attorney in any
court of the commonwealth, that there is reasonable ground to
suspect the perpetration of such offence, it shall be his duty to
summons the plaintiff on petition, his agent or agents, and any
other witness he may think proper to summons, to testify in
the case; and if it shall appear that the plaintiff or petitioner’s
counsel has solicited, procured or induced such suit or petition,
or become a party thereto, then it shall be the duty of the court
to declare such counsel guilty of barratry; and it shall revoke
his license, and disbar him forever from practicing law in the
courts of this commonwealth.

3. This act shall be in force from its passage.