Circuit Court   Circuit courts are the principal trial courts of the state and exercise both original and appellate jurisdiction. They have appellate jurisdiction in criminal as well as civil cases in which an appeal is authorized by law from the judgment or proceedings of the general district court or of the juvenile and domestic relation’s district court. Circuit courts have original jurisdiction over indictments for felonies and over "presentments, information’s and indictments for misdemeanors." These courts generally have exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases in which the amount of money involved exceeds $7,000. They also exercise exclusive jurisdiction over all equity matters such as adoptions, divorces, and land title disputes. Circuit courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the general district courts in civil cases where the amount at issue is more than $1,000 but less than $7,000.00  In addition, circuit courts have jurisdiction over proceedings by quo warranto or information in the nature of quo warranto. Circuit courts also are authorized to issue writs of mandamus (compelling the performance of specific acts), writs of prohibition (ordering the cessation of certain proceedings), and writs of certiorari (directing the forwarding of the records of a case for review) to all the general district courts or to the juvenile and domestic relations district courts. Further, these courts are empowered to issue writs of mandamus in all matters or proceedings arising from or pertaining to actions by boards of supervisors, and in other cases in which it may be necessary to prevent the failure of justice and in which such a writ may be used according to the principles of common law.  Each Virginia County is located entirely within one of thirty-one judicial circuits, and every county has its own circuit court. Greensville County is located within the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court.  The General Assembly sets the boundaries of the circuits and determines the number of judges to be assigned to each, based upon the study and recommendations of the Judicial Council.  The judges of each circuit select one of their own number to act as chief judge.   Contact Us Judge Robert G. O'Hara, Jr. P. O. Box 631 337 South Main Street Emporia, VA 23847 Phone (434) 348-4215