Roanoke VA Criminal & Traffic Defense Lawyers 

Roanoke VA Criminal & Traffic Defense Lawyers 

Roanoke VA Courts

(804) 673-7111

E-mail | Roanoke County & Roanoke City

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    Best Law Firm 2024 Riley Wells Attorneys at Law - Traffic Ticket, Reckless Driving, Speeding, and Virginia Criminal Defense LawyerRiley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is a limited liability company registered to practice law with the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission. Our attorneys serving Roanoke are licensed to practice law by the Virginia State Bar. We represent clients every week before the Roanoke County & City 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 Roanoke VA Attorneys Representing Clients In All Roanoke Courts

    Top Roanoke VA Attorneys Representing Clients In All Roanoke CourtsThe Roanoke County & City Courts are part of Virginia’s 23rd Judicial District. Roanoke County & Roanoke City are separate jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction has its own Circuit Court, a General District Court & a Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. These are all trial courts. Each Court has its own specific jurisdiction. The Roanoke judges preside over a variety of cases all unique to the jurisdiction of their particular court. The Circuit Courts are the trial courts with the broadest powers and also hears cases appealed from the district courts. The right to trial by Jury is only in the Circuit Court. The General District Court hears the most cases due its traffic violation jurisdiction.

    Roanoke Virginia Circuit Court Lawyers

    County Circuit Court

    County Circuit Clerk

    Hon. W. Michael Galliher

    Phone/Fax

    Phone: (540) 387-6205
    Judge Dorsey’s Office: (540) 387-6041
    Judge Swanson’s Office: (540) 387-6270
    Fax: (540) 387-6145

    Clerk’s Office Hours

    8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

    Address

    P. O. Box 1126
    305 E. Main Street
    Salem, VA 24153-1126

    Terms of Roanoke County Circuit Court and General Information

    • Criminal term begins, 1st Friday, Feb., Apr., June, Oct., & Dec.; 2nd Friday, Aug.
    • Civil term begins, 1st Friday, Feb., Apr., June, Oct., & Dec.; 2nd Friday, Aug.
    • Grand Juries, 1st day of criminal term, 9:00 a.m.
    • Criminal attorney Roanoke VA docket call immediately following Grand Jury convening, criminal probation reporting at 9:30 a.m., followed by civil docket call at 10:30 a.m.
    • For hearing dates please contact the Judge’s secretary.
    • Court convenes 8:30 a.m.
    • Commissioners in Chancery are utilized at request of counsel or by order of court.
    • Civil cases set by agreement of counsel or praecipe for civil term docket.

    City Circuit Court

    City Circuit Clerk

    Hon. Brenda S. Hamilton
    email: brenda.hamilton@roanokeva.gov

    Phone/Fax

    Phone: (540) 853-6702
    Civil: (540) 853-6702
    Criminal: (540) 853-6723
    Judge Carson: (540) 853-2436
    Judge Clemens: (540) (853) 2435
    Judge Ware: (540) 853-2051
    Fax: (540) 853-1024
    Fax: Civil: (540) 853-1024
    Fax: Criminal: (540) 853-2114

    Clerk’s Office Hours

    8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Hours for Judges: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

    Address

    P. O. Box 2610
    315 West Church Avenue
    Roanoke, VA 24010-2610

    Terms of Roanoke City Court and General Information

    • Civil and criminal terms begin 1st Monday of each month.
    • Grand Juries, 1st Monday, monthly.
    • Civil cases set by praecipe received by clerk 7 days preceding civil docket call, 1st Monday, and by agreement of counsel, by docket judge and secretary.
    • Court convenes 8:30 a.m.
    • Commissioners in Chancery are utilized on petition of counsel or by order of court.
    • The process for the distribution of Orders from our court is that they will be electronically certified and emailed to the parties directed in the order. Those parties that do not provide an email address will receive their copies through the mail.

    Roanoke Circuit Court Judges

    • Hon. David B. Carson, Presiding Judge
    • Hon. John Christopher Clemens, Presiding Judge
    • Hon. James R. Swanson, Chief Judge
    • Hon. Leisa K. Ciaffone
    • Hon. Charles N. Dorsey

    Roanoke Virginia General District Court Lawyers

    County General District Court

    County GDC Clerk

    Ms Gretchen S. Preston

    Phone/Fax

    Phone: (540) 387-6168
    Fax: (540) 387-6066

    Clerk’s Office Hours

    8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    Address

    P. O. Box 997
    Courthouse
    305 East Main St.
    Salem, VA 24153-0997

    City General District Court

    City GDC Clerk

    Mr Rick S. Kahl
    email: rkahl@vacourts.gov

    Phone/Fax

    Traffic & Criminal: (540) 853-2767 or (540) 853-2361
    Civil: (540) 853-2364
    Judges’ Chambers & Clerk: (540) 853-2511
    Fax: Traffic & Criminal Fax: (540) 853-2487
    Fax: Civil Fax: (540) 853-5826

    Clerk’s Office Hours

    8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    Address

    315 W. Church Ave. S.W.
    2nd Floor
    Roanoke, VA 24016-5007

    Cell phones are prohibited in the courthouse by the public.

    Roanoke General District Court Judges

    • Hon. Francis W. Burkart III, Judge
    • Hon. Scott R. Geddes, Judge
    • Hon. Jacqueline F. Ward Talevi, Judge
    • Hon. Thomas W. Roe Jr, Judge
    ROANOKE COUNTY GDC DOCKET
Civil
Mon., 2:00 p.m.
High Volume
1st, 2nd & 3rd Wed., 2:00 p.m.
Contested
2nd, 3rd & 4th Mon., 2:00 p.m.
1st, 2nd, & 3rd Wed., 2:00 p.m.
Thurs., 2:00 p.m.
Small Claims
1st & 2nd Wed., 3:00 p.m.
Criminal
Mon., Wed. & Thurs., 8:30 a.m., Arraignments
Mon., Wed. & Thurs., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m., Trials
3rd Fri., 9:00 a.m., Special Set Cases
Traffic
Mon., Wed. & Thurs., 8:30 a.m., Arraignments
Mon., Wed. & Thurs., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m., Trials
1st Mon., 2:00 p.m., Trials
Show Cause & VASAP Revocation
4th Wed., 2:00 p.m.
Therapeutic Docket
2nd & 4th Fri., 2:00 p.m.

ROANOKE CITY GDC DOCKET
Criminal
Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m., Arraignments
Mon. - Fri., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., & 11:00 a.m., Regular Dockets
Mon. - Fri., 11:00 a.m., Bond Forfeitures
1st Tues., 2:00 p.m., Animal docket
1st Thurs., 2:00 p.m., Zoning
2nd & 4th Thurs., 2:00 p.m., Therapeutic docket
Traffic
Mon. - Fri., 9:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., & 11:00 a.m., Regular Dockets
3rd Tues., 2:00 p.m., VASAP revocations
Civil
Tues. & Fri.
Regular Dockets, 8:30 a.m. & 9:00 a.m.
Small Claims, 10:00 a.m., 1st & 2nd, Tues., 1st - 5th Fri.
Motion to Rehear, Notice of Hearings, 11:00 a.m., 1st - 4th Tues, 1st - 5th Fri.
Show Cause Hearings, 9:00 a.m., Fri.
Wed.
9:00 a.m., Garnishments
Thurs.
Preset Regular Cases, 2:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Mon - Fri.
Preset Contested Cases, 2:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

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    8/24/2021 | Updated 6/7/2025