Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:23

In any circuit court which has established an electronic filing system for criminal

cases pursuant to Rule 1:17:

(a) Any criminal proceeding may be designated as an Electronically Filed Case upon

consent of the Commonwealth and all defendants in the case.

(b) Except where service and/or filing of an original paper document is expressly

required by these rules, all pleadings, motions, notices and other instruments in an

Electronically Filed Case must be formatted, served and filed as specified in the

requirements and procedures of Rule 1:17; provided, however, that when any document

listed below is filed in the case, the filing party must notify the clerk of court that the

original document will be retained.

(1) Any pleading or affidavit required by statute or rule to be sworn, verified or

certified as provided in Rule 1:17(e)(5).

(2) Any check or other negotiable instrument.

(3) Any handwritten statement, waiver, or consent by a defendant or witness in a

criminal proceeding.

(4) Any form signed by a defendant in a criminal proceeding, including any typed

statements or a guilty plea form.

(5) Any document that cannot be converted into an electronic document in such a

way as to produce a clear and readable image.