The Washington County Magistrate Office operates under the supervision of the Department of Magistrate Services within the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court. Magistrates are judicial officers of the Commonwealth of Virginia and are not associated with law enforcement agencies. One of a magistrate’s principal functions is to provide an independent, unbiased review of complaints from law enforcement officers and citizens to determine if there is probable cause for criminal charges. Magistrates may conduct hearings in person and through designated videoconference systems.

In addition to determining probable cause for criminal charges, magistrates may also:

• Issue search warrants
• Admit to bail or commit to jail following an arrest
• Issue mental health and medical emergency custody orders and temporary detention orders
• Issue emergency protective orders
• Accept prepayment of fines and court costs for certain traffic and misdemeanor offenses 
• Issue civil warrants and order pre-trial levies and seizures in certain circumstances

The Washington County Magistrate Office is within Magistrate Region 1, which also includes Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Wise, and Wythe counties, along with the Cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Radford.  A magistrate may exercise his or her authority anywhere within the Region.