County of Greensville v. City of Emporia

In this declaratory judgment proceeding, we consider whether the trial court correctly ruled that the County of Greensville may not construct and operate two circuit courthouses, and may not construct a new circuit courthouse at a site within the County without first obtaining referendum approval of the voters of both the County and the City of Emporia.

This controversy arose against the background of the following undisputed facts. Emporia formerly was a town that constituted a part of Greensville County. On July 31, 1967, Emporia became an independent city of the second class pursuant to a…