Leslie Mehta House Bill 185 on Court Secrecy Orders Advances in Senate

Sep 9, 2026, 1:30 PM ET

RICHMOND, Va. — A measure aimed at fortifying accountability in Virginia’s courtrooms gained significant momentum this week as the Senate Courts of Justice Committee reported House Bill 185 with amendments and referred it to the Finance and Appropriations Committee. The bill, which passed the House of Delegates unanimously earlier this session, promises to provide a direct pathway for challenging orders that close proceedings or seal records, ensuring that such decisions face prompt scrutiny from the state’s highest court.

HB185, titled ‘Orders closing a proceeding or sealing a record; petitions for review,’ establishes that circuit court orders pertaining to the closure of proceedings or the sealing of records qualify for immediate appellate review by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Under the legislation, any person aggrieved by such an order has 15 days from its entry to file a petition for review. This streamlined process addresses potential overreach by lower courts, safeguarding the foundational principle of open judicial proceedings that underpins public trust in the legal system.

Introduced by Delegate Leslie Chambers Mehta as chief patron, the bill emerged as a recommendation from the Boyd-Graves Conference, a respected assembly of judicial leaders focused on refining court procedures. Prefiled on January 7, 2026, and ordered printed ahead of the session’s start, HB185 quickly navigated the House process. Referred to the House Courts of Justice Committee and its Civil Subcommittee, it received a favorable recommendation from the subcommittee on January 21 by a vote of 9-1. The full committee followed suit on January 28, reporting it out unanimously at 19-0.

The House floor action was equally decisive. After first and second readings on January 30 and February 2, respectively, the chamber passed the bill on February 3 by a resounding 98-0 vote. This overwhelming bipartisan consensus reflects broad recognition of the need for robust checks on decisions that limit public access to court activities. The measure then crossed to the Senate, where constitutional reading was dispensed on February 4, and it landed in the Courts of Justice Committee.

On March 4, that committee advanced HB185 with amendments, voting 14-1 to report it and rerefer to Finance and Appropriations. This progression signals strong legislative support as the 2026 Regular Session enters its critical phase. Multiple fiscal impact statements from the Department of Planning and Budget, issued between January 7 and February 2, indicate no significant budgetary implications, clearing a key hurdle for final passage.

The bill’s provisions hold particular weight in an era where court secrecy can shield important public interests from view. Sealing records or closing proceedings, while sometimes necessary to protect sensitive information, carry the risk of concealing misconduct, influencing outcomes in high-stakes cases, or eroding transparency essential to democratic governance. By enabling swift Supreme Court intervention, HB185 erects a vital safeguard, compelling circuit courts to justify restrictions on openness under heightened appellate standards.

This mechanism empowers journalists, affected parties, and citizens to contest closures that might otherwise linger unchallenged, preserving the presumption of public access rooted in Virginia’s legal traditions. Unanimous House approval underscores the measure’s appeal across ideological lines, particularly among those who prioritize limited judicial discretion and accountability. The single dissenting vote in the Senate subcommittee highlights near-unanimity, even as amendments refine the framework.

As Finance and Appropriations takes up the bill, its fate remains promising, potentially culminating in a tool for upholding open justice statewide. Lawmakers have emphasized procedural efficiency without fiscal strain, aligning with ongoing efforts to modernize Virginia’s judiciary. Should it reach the governor’s desk, HB185 would mark a proactive step toward ensuring that courtrooms remain forums of public reckoning rather than veiled chambers.

The legislation’s roots in the Boyd-Graves Conference lend it authoritative backing, drawing from decades of judicial expertise. This session’s swift handling—from prefiling to Senate committee advancement in under two months—demonstrates legislative commitment to practical reforms that strengthen the rule of law. With the General Assembly in full stride, HB185 stands as a testament to Virginia’s dedication to transparent governance, where no order escapes meaningful review.

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,

Richmond Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Aaron Rouse Abigail Spanberger Adam Ebbin Adele McClure Alex Askew Alfonso Lopez Ali Faruk Amendments Amy Laufer Andrew Breton Angelia Williams Graves Anne Holton Anne Tata Atoosa Reaser Barbara Favola Barry Knight Betsy Carr Bill DeSteph Bill Wiley Bonita Anthony Briana Sewell Bryce Reeves Buddy Fowler Budget Charlie Schmidt Charniele Herring Cheryl Burke Chris Runion Christie Craig Christopher Head Cia Price Cliff Hayes Creigh Deeds Cynthia Newbille Dan Helmer Danica Roem Danny Diggs David Marsden David Reid David Suetterlein Debra Gardner Delores McQuinn Delores Oates Destiny LeVere Bolling Don Scott Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Elizabeth Guzmán Ellen McLaughlin Ellen Robertson Emily Jordan Emmett Jafari Eric Phillips Eric Zehr Garrett McGuire Glen Sturtevant Governor Gretchen Bulova Hillary Kent Holly Seibold House of Delegates Irene Shin Israel O'Quinn Jackie Glass Jas Jeet Singh Jason Ballard Jay Leftwich Jeion Ward Jennifer Boysko Jennifer Carroll Foy Jeremy McPike Jessica Anderson John McAuliff Joseph McNamara Josh Thomas Joshua Cole Justin Pence Kacey Carnegie Kannan Srinivasan Karen Hamilton Karen Keys-Gamarra Karrie Delaney Katherine Jordan Kathryn Ricard Kathy Tran Katrina Callsen Keith Hodges Kelly Convirs-Fowler Kenya Gibson Kimberly Pope Adams Lamont Bagby Lashrecse Aird Laura Cohen Lawmakers Lee Ware Legislation Leslie Mehta Lily Franklin Lindsey Dougherty Louise Lucas Luke Torian Luther Cifers Madison Whittle Mamie Locke Marcus Simon Margaret Franklin Mark Downey Mark Obenshain Mark Peake Marty Martinez Matthew Percival May Nivar Michael Feggans Michael Jones Michael Webert Michelle Maldonado Mike Cherry Misconduct Mitchell Cornett Nadarius Clark Nicole Cole Nicole Jones Otto Wachsmann Patrick Hope Paul Krizek Phil Hernandez Phillip Scott Rae Cousins Reva Trammell Richard Stuart Richmond Richmond City Council Richmond School Board Rip Sullivan Robert Bloxom Rodney Willett Rozia Henson Russet Perry Ryan McDougle Saddam Salim Sam Rasoul Sarah Abubaker Schuyler VanValkenburg Scott Surovell Scott Wyatt Senate Shavonda Fernandez Shelly Simonds Stacey Carroll Stella Pekarsky Stephanie Lynch Stephanie Rizzi supreme court Tammy Mulchi Tara Durant Terry Austin Terry Kilgore Tim Griffin Timmy French Todd Pillion Tom Garrett Tommy Wright Tony Wilt Travis Hackworth Virgil Thornton Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Vivian Watts voting Wendell Walker Wesley Hedgepeth Will Davis Will Morefield William Stanley Wren Williams