CHAPTER 596

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 19
a new article consisting of a new section numbered 19-121.1, author-
izing the appointment of special justices in certain counties, and
prescribing their powers and duties. CH 368]

Approved March 31, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding in Chapter 5 of
Jie fae a new article consisting of a new section numbered 19-121.1
as follows:

Article 5

Special Justices in Certain Counties.

§ 19-121.1. Special justices in certain counties; powers and duties;
salaries and fees.—The judge of the circuit court of any county having
a density of population in excess of five thousand per square mile may
appoint as many special justices for such county as he deems necessary
or proper to perform the duties and exercise the powers set out herein.
Such special justices shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing judge,
shall qualify in the same manner as is prescribed by law for justices of
the peace, and shall be conservators of the peace within the county for
which they are appointed. They may exercise within such county all the
power and authority which is conferred upon justices of the peace by
general law except the power to issue civil processes. The salaries of
such special justices shall be fixed and paid by the governing body of the
county, in which event all fees collected by such justices or to which
they shall be entitled shall be paid monthly into the county treasury
and used as far as possible to pay such salaries. After the appointment
of such special justices for a county no justice of the peace shall there-
after be elected or appointed for such county.

2. This act shall become effective on July 1, 1956.