Office of the Magistrate


The Office of the Magistrate leases space in the local jail facility. The office is staffed by 8 full time Magistrates, Virginia State employees, and 6 secretaries, Newport News City employees. Magistrates are appointed for 4 year terms by the Chief Judge, Newport News Circuit Court. Magistrates are trained and certified by the Virginia Supreme Court. The office is open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. The Office is tasked with handling court processes for the Newport News Circuit, Criminal, Traffic, Juvenile and Domestic Relations and Civil Courts, comprising Virginia’s Seventh Judicial District.

The responsibilities of the Office are to:

  • Issue arrest and search warrants.
  • Admit to bail or commit to jail, arrested persons.
  • Act as a conservator of the peace.
  • Issue emergency mental and medical custody orders.
  • Issue medical emergency temporary detention orders.
  • Issue temporary mental detention orders.
  • Issue emergency family violence protective orders.

In 2005, the Office of the Magistrate had 36,554 total transactions, completed 25,702 processes, a slight increase from 2004 and issued over 20,000 arrest warrants. In addition to issuing arrest warrants and other court documents, Magistrates handled 15 to 20 citizen complaints and over 100 phone calls daily. With the high workload the office is experiencing, it has outgrown its leased space. VA Supreme Court has made a significant investment in computer and technology improvements pertaining to court process preparations focusing on enhanced efficient and effective internal operation, standardization and quality control.  Improved office physical security and additional office space is needed to meet peaking demands for service.

The future of the Magistrate’s Office may include enhanced use of remote video conferencing and electronic processing for criminal processes by citizens and police from neighborhood police precincts.  Video Conferencing should reduce transportation costs and provide more convenient access for citizens and police located long distances from the jail complex.