County Attorney

Prior to August 1, 2011, the County did not have a full-time attorney.  On that date, Heather Pritts was hired and is currently serving as County Attorney at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.  The County maintains a separate and distinct Bond Counsel for purposes of drafting and issuance of the County’s municipal bonds.

The role of the County Attorney is similar to corporate “in-house” counsel in that the County Attorney’s client is an organization.  However, the County Attorney is different than corporate “in-house” counsel because the County Attorney is a public employee who handles all on-going civil and criminal litigation, advice, and consultations with the County government, including the County’s governing body, the Board of Supervisors; the County’s chief executive officer, the County Administrator; as well as all other County boards and commissions, including the Planning Commission, IDA, and limited representation to the School Board and the Board of Zoning Appeals.  The County Attorney also represents employees of the County for legal consultation, advice, and litigation related to their respective role and duties.

The County Attorney is not a private law practitioner and does not represent the general public “citizens.” Also, the County Attorney shall not give any legal advice to a citizen, organization, group, or other person or entity who is not a client of the County Attorney.  Further, the County Attorney does not represent individual members of the governing body, boards and commissions, the chief executive officer, or employees of the County for personal legal matters and shall not give advice as such.

Contact Information:

Heather N. Pritts, County Attorney
121 Bagley Circle, Suite 100
Marion, VA 24354
 
Telephone: (276) 783-3298 ext. 201
Facsimile: (276) 783-9314
E-Mail: hpritts@smythcounty.org