Goochland County VA Attorneys for Criminal Law & Traffic Violation Defense

Free Goochland County Case Evaluation by Top Rated Attorney

Please submit your contact information along with the relevant details of your case using the below form. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. Our normal office hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Experienced Goochland County VA Criminal & Traffic Attorneys

Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is a limited liability company registered to practice law with the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission. Our Goochland VA attorneys are licensed to practice law by the Virginia State Bar. We represent clients every week before the Goochland County VA Courts. Our law firm is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell and recognized as a “Best Law Firm” according to U.S. News and World Reports for the highest level of professional excellence in legal ability and ethical standards. The Martindale-Hubbell and Best Lawyers publications are distinguished, established organizations that publish reliable information regarding lawyers and law firms.

Top Goochland County VA Attorneys Representing Clients Before The Courts

The Goochland Courts serves as part of Virginia’s 16th Judicial District. These courts consist of a Circuit Court, a General District Court & a Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. These are all trial courts. Each Court has its own Judges and its own specific jurisdiction. The Goochland judges preside over a variety of cases all unique to the jurisdiction of their particular court. The Goochland Circuit Court is the trial court with the broadest powers and also hears cases appealed from the district courts. The right to trial by Jury is only in the Goochland Circuit Court. The Goochland General District Court hears the most cases due its traffic violation jurisdiction.

Goochland County VA Circuit Court Lawyers

Circuit Clerk Hon. Amanda Adams Phone/Fax Phone: (804) 556-5353 Fax: (804) 556-4962

Clerk’s Office Hours 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Address P. O. Box 196 2938 River Road West Goochland, VA 23063

Circuit Judges

• Hon. Timothy K. Sanner, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Claude V. Worrell Jr., Chief Judge
• Hon. David M Barredo
• Hon. Dale B. Durrer
• Hon. David B. Franzen
• Hon. Cheryl V. Higgins

Terms of Goochland Circuit Court and General Information

• Court convenes 9:30 a.m. except Motion Days which begins at 9:00 a.m.
• Terms begin, 2nd Tuesday, Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct., & Dec.
• Grand Juries, 1st day of Term.
• Civil cases set on Term Day by praecipe.
• Commissioners in Chancery are rarely utilized and only by agreement of Counsel.
• Local rules adopted pursuant to Section 8.01-4.
• Goochland Circuit Court sends copies of orders by regular mail.

Goochland County VA General District & Juvenile Domestic Relations Court Lawyers

Combined Clerk Ms Dianne Henley White Phone/Fax Phone: (804) 556-5309 Phone: (804) 556-5437 TDD Fax: (804) 556-4494

Clerk’s Office Hours 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Address P. O. Box 47 2938 River Road West Goochland, VA 23063-0047

General District Judges

• Hon. Claiborne H. Stokes Jr., Chief Judge
• Hon. Theresa W. Carter
• Hon. Matthew J. Quatrara
• Hon. Kenneth Andrew Sneathern

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judges

• Hon. Deborah S. Tinsley, Presiding Judge, Chief Judge
• Hon. Gilbert H. Berger
• Hon. Barbara G. Lowe
• Hon. Ronald L. Morris
• Hon. Areshini Pather
• Hon. Frank W. Somerville

District Court Schedule

General District Court
   Mondays
     1st Returns- 8:45 a.m.
     Deputy Cases- 9:00 a.m.
     Trooper Cases- 10:30 a.m.
     Game Warden Cases- 1:00 p.m. on 1st and 2nd Mondays
     Animal Control Cases- 1:00 p.m. on 1st and 2nd Mondays
     VASAP- 1:00 p.m. on 3rd Mondays
     OAR- 1:00 p.m. on 4th Mondays
     Civil Docket- 2:00 p.m.

Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
   1st & 3rd Tuesdays/ 1st, 2nd & 4th Thursdays
     9:00-10:00: Traffic and first callings on criminal, 
        delinquency
     chins, custody/visitation(C/V), and support
     9:00 on 4th Thursday- DCSE only
     10:00-11:00: Criminal/delinquency trials
     (may be scheduled at special times if a lengthy trial is 
        anticipated
     11:00-12:30: Mediation Order Reviews, GAL reports on C/V cases
     12:30: Videos
     1:30: Foster Care and Chins
     2:00: contested cases on the days FTC is not in session
     2:30 on 2nd & 4th Thursdays- Family Treatment Court

District Continuance Policy

First traffic continuance granted by Clerk; criminal continuances by Commonwealth’s Attorney or Judge.

4/22/2023 | Updated 8/10/2025