FAQ Courthouse

As much as possible, you should dress respectfully and professionally, as if you are attending an important work meeting.  Avoid casual and/or revealing clothing or styles, such as shorts, sleeveless shirts, open-toed shoes, etc.  

Except for religious or medical head coverings, no hats, head scarves, headbands, or kerchiefs may be worn in any courtroom. 

Prescription and other vision-correcting eyeglasses may be worn at all times.  You may bring sunglasses into the building, but you must remove them in the courtroom, unless they are medically necessary.  Eyeglasses equipped with recording devices may not be used to record. 

No guns, knives, pepper gas, mace, tools, sharp objects including scissors, or other weapons of any kind are allowed in the Judicial Center per 18.2 - 283.1 Code of Virginia.

Cell phones and other portable electronic devices like tablets, smart watches, and laptops, are allowed in the courthouse but may not be used in any courtroom unless permitted by the presiding judge, and they must be in silent mode.  The full policy can be viewed here: Recording Equipment and Portable Devices Policy.  Violations of this policy may result in confiscation of the device, removal from the courthouse, and/or a finding of contempt. 

Cameras, video cameras and similar devices are not permitted in the courthouse unless permission is granted in advance by a judge.  The only exception to this rule is for weddings taking place in the courthouse, when arrangements are made with the Sheriff’s Office in advance.  The full policy can be viewed here: Recording Equipment and Portable Devices Policy.  Violations of this policy may result in confiscation of the device, removal from the courthouse, and/or a finding of contempt. 

No one may take photographs or record in the courthouse unless they are permitted to do so in advance by a judge.  The full policy can be viewed here: Recording Equipment and Portable Devices Policy.  Violations of this policy may result in confiscation of the device used, removal from the courthouse, and/or a finding of contempt. 

Yes.  Wi-Fi is available in the Judicial Center.  The public network is named, “PWC-Public.”

Public parking lots and handicap spaces are available around the courthouse. For a map of parking please click here: Judicial Center Parking Map.

 

Public restrooms are located at the beginning and end of the hallway on each floor of the building. 

Yes, the cafeteria is located on the lower level around the corner from the elevators.  It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  There are also vending machines by the stairwell in the lower level. 

Yes, the ATM is located on the lower level at the bottom of the stairs.

There are three separate courts serving Prince William County, all of which are located in the Judicial Center. The Circuit Court is on the third floor.  The General District Court is on the second floor.  The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court is on the first floor.

On each floor, the courtrooms are located down the hall and labeled accordingly.  On the third floor, an additional Circuit Court courtroom is located to the right as you step off of the elevators. 

The Circuit Court has general trial court jurisdiction, including acting as an appellate court for the General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, and is a separate and distinct branch of government. The Circuit Court decides the most serious cases, presiding over criminal, civil, concealed handgun permits, miscellaneous, and other cases.  The Circuit Court Clerk is also tasked with performing many other functions.  More information can be found here. 

The General District Court handles traffic violations, hears minor criminal cases known as misdemeanors, and conducts preliminary hearings for more serious criminal cases called felonies. The Court has exclusive authority to hear civil cases with claims of $4,500 or less and shares authority with the circuit courts to hear cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000. Examples of civil cases are landlord and tenant disputes, contract disputes, and personal injury actions. The General District Court does not conduct jury trials. All cases in this court are heard by a judge. More information can be found here.

The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court hears all matters involving juveniles such as criminal or traffic matters. A juvenile is any person under 18 years of age. Juvenile delinquency cases involve a minor under the age of 18 who has been accused of committing an offense that would be considered criminal if committed by an adult. Other juvenile offenses may be referred as status offenses. Status offenses are those acts that are unlawful only because they are committed by a minor. This court also handles other matters involving the family such as custody, support, and visitation. The court also hears family abuse cases, cases where adults have been accused of child abuse or neglect, and criminal cases where the defendant and alleged victim are family, household members or intimate partners. More information can be found here.

Digital docket monitors are located on each floor. On the first floor, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court docket is located outside of Courtroom 3. In General District Court on the second floor, it is located across from the elevators. The Circuit Court docket is located next to the elevators on the third floor.

The easiest way to determine which court you need to go to is to look for the case number on your paperwork.  If the case number starts with a “C,” you need to go to the Circuit Court on the third floor.  If it starts with a “G,” you need to go to the General District Court on the second floor.  If it starts with a “J,” you need to go to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on the first floor. 

Bring a copy of the paperwork relating to your case or why you are in court.  This might include documents like a warrant, jury duty summons or witness subpoena.  You should also bring an identification card or driver’s license, if you have one. 

Jury trials are only heard in the Circuit Court and can be on a variety of topics, including criminal cases, personal injury cases, medical malpractices cases, property disputes and contract disputes. 

When your case is called, counsel and the parties should proceed to the counsel tables or the podium in front of the judge. 

Witnesses should let the court know they are present but remain at their seat.  The Court or attorneys will provide further instruction. 

“The bar” has two different meanings.  It may refer to an organization governing lawyers, such as the Virginia State Bar or the Prince William County Bar Association.  It may also refer to the railing or fence that separates the public section of the courtroom from the well of the court.

The “well” of the court is the open area located between the judge’s bench and the public seating gallery. It contains the plaintiff/prosecutor and defendant/defense counsel tables.  Only authorized persons may enter that area. 

To request an interpreter for a hearing, please file an Interpreter Request Form with the Clerk’s Office at least two weeks before the scheduled hearing in that court.  The Interpreter Request Form is available here.

Prince William County courts provide ADA accommodations to ensure equal access, including sign language interpreters and document formatting. Requests forms are available here and should be submitted to the relevant court clerk or that court’s ADA coordinator at least five days before the scheduled court date.  A list of all Virginia Court ADA coordinators is available here.  More information about ADA accommodations in the Virginia court system is available here. 

Information about criminal cases may be found on the Online Case Information System.  Information about certain other types of cases may be available on the Clerk’s Office’s website. 

Copies of your case can be obtained from the clerk of the court that is hearing or heard the case. 

Circuit Court Forms

General District Court Forms

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Forms

You will need to bring your own device, such as a laptop or tablet, a copy of the recording for the Court, and a copy of the recording to provide to the opposing side.  If you have questions about whether your equipment can be played in the courtroom, you should contact that court’s Clerk’s Office in advance. 

Attorneys are only appointed in certain types of cases and may only be available to those with a household income below a certain amount.  If you would like to apply for a court-appointed attorney, you must complete a financial statement to verify eligibility through the Court Clerk’s office where your case is pending.  The judge will then decide whether to appoint an attorney. 

There are many excellent attorneys in Prince William County and the surrounding area. If you are struggling to find one to represent you, you may wish to contact the Prince William County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service at (703) 393-2306, or locate one through the Virginia State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service.  Both organizations charge a small fee, but you will be entitled to a thirty-minute consultation with the attorney they provide.  You may also wish to contact Legal Services of Northern Virginia. 

Please request court appointed counsel for criminal matters by completing the form to determine eligibility in the respective clerk’s office for the court that your matter is being handled.

If you are represented by an attorney, you should contact that person or his or her office to let him know.  The courts may be reached at the following numbers:

Circuit Court: (703) 792-6015

General District Court: Traffic/Criminal (703) 792-6141, Civil (703) 792-6149

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court: (703) 792-6160

The Commonwealth Attorney’s office is located on the second floor of the Judicial Center in Suite 200

The Paul B. Ebert Public Law Library is located inside the Prince William County Judicial Center at 9311 Lee Avenue, 3rd Floor, Room 305, Manassas, VA 20110. Its hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Victim Witness Assistance Program is administered by the Commonwealth’s Attorney and is located at their office in Suite 200 in the courthouse.  More information about their services is available at Victim Witness Frequently Asked Questions. 

The 31st District Court Service Unit (CSU), also commonly referred to as Juvenile Intake or Juvenile Probation is a component of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and provides services to Prince William County, the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park for domestic and delinquent intake services, juvenile probation and parole services.  More information can be found here. 

                31^st District Court Services Unit (CSU)

                9540 Center Street, Suite 200

                Manassas, VA 20110

Yes, there is a room labeled “nursing mothers’ room” on the third floor across from the stairwell.  It is available on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Pretrial is part of the Office of Criminal Justice Services, which has the following two offices:

Manassas Office
9540 Center Street, Suite 301
Manassas, VA 20110

Woodbridge Office
13851 Telegraph Road, Suite 205
Woodbridge, VA 22192

The Magistrate’s Office is located in the lower level of the Adult Detention Center, 9320 Lee Ave., Manassas, VA 20110.

The Adult Detention Center (“ADC” or “jail”) is located at 9320 Lee Ave., Manassas, VA 20110. It is situated within the Prince William County Judicial Complex, adjacent to the courthouse. 

The ADC has rules and regulations about scheduling visits with inmates.  More information is available here. 

The Juvenile Detention Center (“JDC”) is located at 14873 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA 20112.

The Molinari Juvenile Shelter is a non-secure facility that serves juveniles between the ages of 10-17 and is located at 8642 Wellington Road, Manassas, VA 20109,

Local Offender’s Probation has two offices:

Manassas Office
9540 Center Street, Suite 301
Manassas, VA 20110

Woodbridge Office
13851 Telegraph Road, Suite 205
Woodbridge, VA 22192

District 35 Probation & Parole, often referred to as “state probation” is located at:

9309 Center Street, Suite 204
Manassas, VA 20110.