The court must take judicial notice of the contents of all official publications of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions and agencies required to be published pursuant to the laws thereof, and of all such official publications of other states, of the United States, of other countries, and of the political subdivisions and agencies of each published within those jurisdictions pursuant to the laws thereof.
Rule 2:203.JUDICIAL NOTICE OF OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS (derived from Code § 8.01-388).
Part Two: Virginia Rules of Evidence · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2:203 makes judicial notice of official publications mandatory rather than discretionary, requiring courts to notice the contents of Virginia’s official publications and those of other states, the federal government, and other countries when those publications were required to be published under the issuing jurisdiction’s own law.
Full Text of Rule 2:203
Plain-English Summary
Rule 2:203 narrows the discretion Rule 2:202 otherwise gives courts over judicial notice of law. Where Rule 2:202 generally allows a court to take judicial notice of law, Rule 2:203 requires it for a specific category: official publications. If Virginia or one of its political subdivisions or agencies was required by law to publish something — regulations, official reports, and the like — a court must take judicial notice of its contents. There is no discretion to decline.
The same mandatory duty extends beyond Virginia’s borders. A court must also take judicial notice of the official publications of other states, the United States, and other countries, along with their political subdivisions and agencies, as long as those publications were required to be published under the laws of the jurisdiction that issued them. The rule’s mandatory language reflects the reliability courts place in official government publications that the issuing authority was legally obligated to produce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is judicial notice of official publications mandatory or discretionary under Rule 2:203?
Mandatory. The rule states that the court “must” take judicial notice of the contents of qualifying official publications, unlike the more permissive language in Rule 2:202 governing judicial notice of law generally.
What makes a publication qualify under Rule 2:203?
It must be an official publication of a government or agency — Virginia, another state, the United States, another country, or any of their political subdivisions or agencies — that was required to be published pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction issuing it.
Does Rule 2:203 cover publications from outside the United States?
Yes. It requires judicial notice of official publications of other countries and their political subdivisions and agencies, on the same terms as publications from Virginia, other states, and the federal government.
How does Rule 2:203 differ from Rule 2:202?
Rule 2:202 addresses judicial notice of law generally and gives courts discretion in civil cases over which sources to consult. Rule 2:203 carves out official publications specifically and requires notice of their contents without that discretion.
Do the parties need to request judicial notice of an official publication?
The rule’s mandatory phrasing means a court’s duty to notice a qualifying publication does not depend on a party’s request, though a party can bring the publication to the court’s attention to ensure it is considered.
Amendment History
Adopted and promulgated by Order dated June 1, 2012; effective July 1, 2012. Last amended by Order dated November 13, 2020; effective July 1, 2021.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia, published by the
Supreme Court of Virginia. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: judicial notice of official publications virginiamandatory judicial notice virginia rulenotice of government publication virginia courtofficial records judicial notice virginia