Portsmouth Attorneys

City of Portsmouth Criminal and Traffic Information

The primary law enforcement agency in Portsmouth is the City of Portsmouth Police Department. Troopers assigned to the Fifth Division of the Virginia State Police concentrate on traffic enforcement on or near Interstate 264 and the Downtown Tunnel.

*Effective September 24, 2012 all City of Portsmouth Courts will move to the new Judicial Center located at 1345 Court Street (Port Centre Parkway)

Portsmouth Circuit Court

(3^rd Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia) is located at 1345 Court Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704. Four Judges hear cases there. (Honorable J. E. Morrison, Honorable J. P. Crowe, Honorable K. R. Melvin, and Honorable B. C. Spry)
Felony Trials are heard Monday-Thursday at 10:00 a.m. except for the first Tuesday and Wednesday of the month.
Sentencing and Probation Violations are heard Monday-Friday at 9:00 a.m.
Bond Hearings are heard Monday-Friday and 10:00 a.m.
Other Felony motions are heard Monday-Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
Non-Jury Misdemeanor Appeals are heard Friday at 10:00 a.m.

Portsmouth General District Court

(3 ^rd Judicial District of Virginia) is located at 1345 Court Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704. Two Judges hear cases there. (Honorable R. O. Holder and Honorable D. B. Ottinger)
Drug cases are heard on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.
Traffic Cases are set at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 2:00 p.m. depending on the Officer or Trooper's regularly scheduled court date.
Arraignments for persons released on bond or summons are at 8:00 a.m. on Fridays. Attorneys may set initial trial or preliminary hearing dates without their client having to appear. Persons in custody are arraigned every day.
Bond Hearings - Usually may be conducted at initial appearance or at 10:00 a.m. with (1) day's notice to the Commonwealth if the Commonwealth is prosecuting the matter.

Portsmouth Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Located at 1345 Court Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704. Three Judges hear cases (Honorable A. C. Willis, Honorable B. K. Meals and Honorable D. P. Griffin)
Arraignments and Bond Hearings are held Monday - Friday at 9:00 a.m. Attorney may set initial hearing or trial date without client having to appear.
Bond Hearings - Usually may be conducted at initial appearance or with (1) day's notice to the Commonwealth.
Each Judge hears certain types of criminal cases on particular days of the week, at 10:00 a.m. That schedule dictates court dates.
Jail Information - Portsmouth male inmates are housed either in the Portsmouth City Jail, 701 Crawford Street, Hampton Road Regional Jail, 2690 Elmhurst Lane, or Work Release Center 2021 Frederick Blvd. All female inmates are housed at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.