Virginia's Fornication Law, From Martin v. Ziherl to Repeal
In short
No. In Martin v. Ziherl (January 14, 2005), the Supreme Court of Virginia held the state's fornication statute unconstitutional in a civil suit over a sexually transmitted infection. The law remained in the code, punishable by a fine of up to $250, until House Bill 245 repealed § 18.2-344 in 2020 (Acts 2020, c. 122).
What the full article will cover
- What did Virginia's fornication statute say?
- What happened in Martin v. Ziherl?
- Why did the law stay in the code after 2005?
- How did the 2020 repeal pass?
- Which other old Virginia laws were repealed?
Frequently asked questions
- What was the penalty for fornication in Virginia?
- Who sponsored the repeal?
- Is adultery still a crime in Virginia?
Sources
- law.lis.virginia.gov — https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter8/section18.2-344/
- acluva.org — https://www.acluva.org/en/node/3382
- 12onyourside.com — https://www.12onyourside.com/2020/03/05/you-can-now-have-sex-before-marriage-swear-public-be-habitual-drunkard-without-breaking-law-virginia/
- wsvn.com — https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/a-new-bill-could-finally-make-it-legal-for-unmarried-people-to-have-sex-in-virginia/
General information, not legal or religious advice.