[6] After the capital moved to Williamsburg, the government built a state house and devoted one half of the building to the General Court's use.
[7] Officially, each new Governor of Virginia or ruler of the United Kingdom had to recommission councillors, but most General Court appointments were effectively for life.
[9] The governor could also suspend councillors for just cause, but had to notify the English government and provide reasoning with sufficient proof for the suspension.
[10] The General Court had original and appellate jurisdiction for civil and criminal cases in Virginia.
[18] Some attorneys who had studied and practiced law in England did not think highly of the General Court; among other things, they complained about the councillors' lack of legal training and the fact that people who were involved in writing the law (the Council was the upper house of the Virginia's legislature) also interpreted it.
[26] The court shared original jurisdiction over probate and cases involving public debtors.
[27] Virginia's Constitution of 1851 abolished the General Court;[28] it officially ceased to exist on July 1, 1852.