Arlington County General District Court: An Overview
Arlington County General District Court, or as lawyers call it Arlington GDC, is where most criminal and civil cases in Arlington are handled. The vast majority of cases, such as DUIs criminal misdemeanors, and some felonies also start here before they go to Circuit Court. Arlington GDC also handles landlord tenant cases and certain civil claims.
CALL OR TEXT US TODAY if you'd like to talk to an experienced attorney about an Arlington GDC case.
Our Alexandria office is about 15 minutes away from Arlington GDC, and we've practiced there for years. Here's what you might expect when you go there.
Location and Setting
Arlington GDC is right in the middle of Arlington. At 1425 N Courthouse Rd #2400, Arlington, VA 22201. You can get there on the Orange Line at the Courthouse stop. There's a Subway right at the Courthouse if you're hungry as well as some restaurants near Courthouse Plaza.
Parking is pretty bad at Arlington GDC. If you have a criminal or civil case at Arlington GDC, plan to arrive at 20 minutes early. There's a parking lot right across the street from Arlington GDC, but it's always full in the mornings. Arlington Police and people working at the Courthouse Plaza often get there before the Court opens. When that happens, you'll have to find street parking, but that's a pain because the immediate neighborhood is often full. Make sure you pay your meter if you park on the street or in the lot, as Arlington parking enforcement will absolutely ticket you if they find you. Street parking can be done through ParkMobile if you have the app.
Arlington GDC is a bad place to be late for your hearing. When Arlington Police show up for cases, the Court's move quickly through the officer's matters. If you're not there, you might lose your case by default.
Types of Cases and Scope
The Arlington County General District Court handles an array of cases, ranging from traffic violations to civil disputes. Because this is a smaller Court than others (like Fairfax GDC), you'll usually spend less time waiting for your case to be called. Traffic and DUI dockets can still be very busy, however, so plan to spend 1 hour at Arlington GDC if you have a case to be heard unless you have an attorney who can speed things up for you.
Cell Phones and Electronics
Arlington GDC does not allow cell phones or electronics in the Courtroom unless you're an attorney. Across the entry way to the Court is the Arlington County where you can store you phone. Be sure to either leave your phone in the car or have a quarter handy when you go inside.
Other Courts at Arlington GDC
Arlington GDC is in the same building as the Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court as well as the Arlington Circuit Court. Arlington GDC courts are usually on the second and third floors. If you have a GDC case, the Clerks put out a paper copy of the list of cases to be heard that day on a bulletin board on the wall on the second floor.
What We Do at Arlington GDC
We've done a lot of cases at Arlington GDC. DUI, reckless driving, you name it. We've done it. And if we haven't done it, we'll refer you to someone who has. If you have a case at Arlington GDC CALL OR TEXT US TODAY for a free consultation.
