Authority: Title 17.1, Chapter 4 and § 19.2-163, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of the amounts in this Item for Appellate Review shall be paid:

1. The annual salary of the Chief Judge, $221,915 from June 10, 2024 to June 9, 2025, $228,572 from June 10, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

2. The annual salaries of the sixteen (16) judges, each at $218,825 from June 10, 2024 to June 9, 2025, $225,390 from June 10, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

3. Salaries of the judges are to be 95 percent of the salaries of justices of the Supreme Court except for the Chief Judge, who shall receive an additional $3,000 annually.

4. To each judge, $6,500 the first year and $6,500 the second year, for expenses not otherwise reimbursed, said expenses to be paid out of the current appropriation to the Court.

B. There is hereby reappropriated the unexpended balance remaining at the close of business on June 30, 2024, in the appropriation made in Item 43, Chapter 1, Acts of Assembly of 2023, Special Session I, in the item detail Other Court Costs and Allowances (Criminal Fund) and the balance remaining in this item detail on June 30, 2025.

C. The amount of attorney's fees allowed counsel to indigent defendants in appeals to the Court of Appeals shall be in the discretion of the court.

D. Out of the amounts appropriated in this Item, $9,493,443 the first year and $9,493,443 the second year from the general fund to support additional judges and associated staff to address anticipated workload increases related to legislation adopted by the 2021 Session of the General Assembly that expands the jurisdiction and organization of the Court of Appeals of Virginia.

E. The Court of Appeals shall examine options for workload metrics that could be used to objectively determine the necessary number of positions, including judgeships and personnel in the Clerk's Office and the Office of the Chief Attorney. The Court of Appeals shall provide a report to the General Assembly on its findings and recommendations by November 15, 2025.