Opinion ID: 1059247
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: writ of prohibiton

Text: The law concerning a writ of prohibition is well-established. Oxenham v. J.S.M., 256 Va. 180, 183, 501 S.E.2d 765, 767 (1998). A writ of prohibition is an extraordinary remedy employed `to redress the grievance growing out of an encroachment of jurisdiction.' Elliott v. Great Atlantic Management Co., Inc., 236 Va. 334, 338, 374 S.E.2d 27, 29 (1988) (quoting James v. Stokes, 77 Va. 225, 229 (1883)). The writ does not lie to correct error but only to prevent exercise of the jurisdiction of the court by the judge to whom it is directed when the judge either has no jurisdiction or is exceeding his/her jurisdiction. In re Department of Corrections, 222 Va. 454, 461, 281 S.E.2d 857, 861 (1981); Grief v. Kegley, 115 Va. 552, 557, 79 S.E. 1062, 1064 (1913). Jurisdiction is the power to adjudicate a case upon the merits and dispose of it as justice may require. County School Bd. of Tazewell County v. Snead, 198 Va. 100, 104-05, 92 S.E.2d 497, 501 (1956) (quoting Southern Sand and Gravel Co., Inc. v. Massaponax Sand and Gravel Corp., 145 Va. 317, 331-32, 133 S.E. 812, 816 (1926) (Burks, J., concurring)). Prohibition will not lie [i]f the court or judge has jurisdiction to enter any order in the proceeding sought to be prohibited. Grief, 115 Va. at 557, 79 S.E. at 1064. Thus, a writ of prohibition will not lie against Judge Swanson if he had jurisdiction to adjudicate and to enter any order in the proceedings involving the felony charges against Putbrese and Boyd. See Oxenham, 256 Va. at 184, 501 S.E.2d at 767. Circuit courts have original jurisdiction of all indictments for felonies and of presentments, informations and indictments for misdemeanors. Code § 17.1-513. Here, both defendants were charged with grand larceny, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of not more than 20 years in a state correctional facility. Code § 18.2-95. Accordingly, Judge Swanson had jurisdiction to adjudicate both criminal cases and to enter orders therein. Therefore, a writ of prohibition does not lie, and we will dismiss both petitions. Cf. Department of Corrections, 222 Va. at 463, 466, 281 S.E.2d at 862, 864 (awarding writ prohibiting trial judge from entering any order on motions to suspend balance of sentences of two defendants because court no longer had jurisdiction to act on the motions).