§ 8.01-385.Definitions.

Before Chapter 14 tells a Virginia court what to take judicial notice of, Section 8.01-385 makes sure everyone means the same thing by the words involved. It defines seven terms that recur throughout the judicial notice and public records provisions that follow, so a single definition governs whether the source is Virginia, a sister state, a foreign country, or the federal government.

Several definitions cast a wide net on purpose. “United States” reaches beyond the fifty states to territories, commonwealths, insular possessions, the District of Columbia, and other political subdivisions. “Court” is not limited to courts in the traditional sense — it includes any person or body appointed by a court or acting under its authority in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity, and any other fact-finding body acting under Commonwealth law, naming the State Corporation Commission and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission as examples. “Political subdivision” and “agency” get similarly broad, layered definitions that adjust depending on whether the reference is to the United States, another country, Virginia, or another state.

The remaining definitions are newer additions built for the digital age. “Official publication” now reaches a registry or listing of licenses, permits, or registrations posted on an agency’s or political subdivision’s official website, not just a printed publication. “Publish” likewise includes posting to an official website. And “required to be published pursuant to the laws thereof” was expanded to include records subject to disclosure under § 54.1-108, tying the judicial notice framework to Virginia’s professional licensing disclosure law.