VA · rules
Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3:22
Trial by Jury or by the Court
(a) By Jury. — When trial by jury has been demanded as provided in Rule 3:21, the
action will be designated upon the docket as a jury action. The trial of all issues so
demanded must be by jury, unless (1) the parties or their attorneys of record, by written
stipulation filed with the court or by an oral stipulation made in open court and entered in
the record, consent to trial by the court sitting without a jury; or (2) the court upon motion
or of its own initiative finds that a right of trial by jury on some or all of those issues does
not exist under applicable law.
(b) By the Court. — Except as otherwise provided in this Rule, issues not demanded
for trial by jury as provided in Rule 3:21, and issues as to which a right of trial by jury
does not exist, will be tried by the court.
(c) Statutory Jury Rights in Certain Equitable Claims. —
(1) In an equitable claim where no right to a jury trial otherwise exists, where
impaneling of an advisory jury pursuant to Code § 8.01-336(E) to hear an issue will be
helpful to the court concerning disputed fact issues, such a jury may be seated. Decision
on such claims and issues will be made by the judge.
(2) Where a jury trial on a defendant's plea in an equitable claim is authorized under
Code § 8.01-336(D), trial of the issues presented by the plea will be by a jury whose
verdict on those issues has the same effect as if trial by jury had been a matter of right.
(d) Party Consent to Jury. — As to any claim not triable of right by a jury, the court,
with the consent of the parties, may (i) order trial of any claim or issue with an advisory
jury or, (ii) a trial with a jury whose verdict has the same effect as if trial by jury had
been a matter of right.
(e) Trial by Mixed Jury and Non-Jury Claims. — In any case when there are both
jury and non-jury issues to be tried, the court must adopt trial procedures and a sequence
of proceedings to assure that all issues properly heard by the jury are decided by it, and
applicable factual determinations by the jury will be used by the judge in resolving the
non-jury issues in the case.
History
Last amended by Order dated November 23, 2020; effective March 1, 2021.
Provenance
- Source
- www.vacourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-15
- Edition
- 2026-09-15
- Content hash
d724a485fcec45b846beebc4dcbef3291c172a16cdc5c2bd0309069999d735e8
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