No function of government is more important than the administration of justice. It has been necessary that the General Assembly continuously examine this function and improve it where deficiencies or abuses are found to exist. In 1938 the Virginia State Bar was created to guard against unethical conduct by members of its profession and the unauthorized practice of law by laymen. This served to alleviate the situation then faced, but it has since become necessary to take further steps.

In 1956, the General Assembly created two Committees to investigate and report upon matters connected with the administration of justice (Chapters 34 and 47 of the Acts of Assembly, 1956 extra session). These Committees ended on the convening of and during, the regular session of 1958. However, in that same session the General Assembly directed anew and continuing study of the matter by enacting Chapter 373 of the Acts of Assembly of 1958 (§§ 30-42 through 30-51 of the Code of Virginia), which Chapter created this Committee as one separate and distinct from its predecessors.