Arlington County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Arlington County is a 26-square-mile county in Northern Virginia. Currently ranked the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, Arlington County is home to over 230,000 residents, over 6,000 businesses, and an efficient judicial system. Arlington County's judiciary is structured to handle and determine a wide variety of cases and legal issues, ranging from high-cost civil matters and serious criminal offenses to juvenile and domestic violence matters. The judicial system primarily comprises the Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. Each court plays different roles that are essential for maintaining law and order and upholding the rule of law in the County.

The Circuit Court, located in Arlington, has concurrent jurisdiction with the General District Court over civil claims involving between $4,500 and $25,000 and exclusive jurisdiction over civil claims involving more than $25,000. The court also hears all felonies, adoption cases, and appeals from the other two courts. The General District Court primarily handles civil cases involving $25,000 or less, misdemeanors, and felony preliminaries, and the bulk of court cases go through this court. The Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court investigates domestic violence matters, cases of adult offenses against children, and related matters.

Arlington County has an active judicial system with a significant caseload. The county's courts, for the 2021 year-end, collectively handled nearly 60,000 cases. The court structure helps apportion this caseload, resulting in a relatively speedy resolution of disputes and determination of matters. The county's crime rate of 2.59 per 1,000 residents further indicates the prevalence of the rule of law, which is partly attributable to the county's efficient justice system. The cases determined by each court, including case filings and other general court filings, comprise Arlington County's court documents. Arlington County's court documents are generally accessible to the public, although the mode of access varies by court. For example, members of the public may access some Circuit Court records via the Virginia Case Management System.

In summary, the Arlington County court system is key to the County's governance and law and order, ensuring the delivery of justice across a wide range of legal issues. The court's structure, which includes the Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, and the ease of access to court documents, are factors that improve the court's efficiency, public trust in the judicial system, and its diverse caseload.