(a)Issuance. More than one warrant or summons may issue on the same complaint. A warrant may be issued by a judicial officer if the accused fails to appear in response to a summons.(b)Form of Summons. A summons, whether issued by a magistrate or a lawenforcement officer, must command the accused to appear at a stated time and place before a court of appropriate jurisdiction in the county, city or town in which the summons is issued. It must (i) state the name of the accused or, if his name is unknown, set forth a description by which he can be identified with reasonable certainty, (ii) describe the offense charged and state whether the offense is a violation of state, county, city or town law, and (iii) be signed by the magistrate or the law-enforcement office, as the case may be.(c)Execution and Return. If a warrant has been issued but the officer does not have the warrant in his possession at the time of the arrest, he must (i) inform the accused of the offense charged and that a warrant has been issued, and (ii) deliver a copy of the warrant to the accused as soon thereafter as practicable.
Va. Sup. Ct. 3A:4
Amended by order dated September 3, 2020, effective September 3, 2020; amended by order dated November 23, 2020, effective March 1, 2021.
