You have a right to appeal the outcome of your case. If you were convicted in General District Court, your case may be appealed and tried “De Novo,” which essentially means all over again, in Circuit Court. You may request a trial by jury in Circuit Court. You must file the appeal within 10 calendar days of your conviction in General District Court. It is advisable that you use a skilled attorney to file your appeal and represent you.
If you were convicted in Circuit Court, you may appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The case will not be tried all over again. The Court of Appeals will only review the conduct of the first trial to determine whether law and procedures were properly followed.