13 V.S.A. § 1459: Commencement of action and hearing

(a) The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over proceedings under this chapter. The Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure and the Vermont Rules of Evidence shall apply.

(b) Proceedings under this chapter may be commenced in the county in which the complainant or the defendant resides, or in the county in which the incident occurred.

(c) A plaintiff may seek a hate-motivated crime injunction by filing a complaint under this chapter.

(d) A preliminary hearing upon the complaint shall be scheduled as soon as reasonably possible in consideration of the safety of the complainant.