United States Virgin Islands Supreme Court
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Court
of the Virgin Islands is the highest court in the territory of the United States Virgin Islands
. The Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over appeals from the Superior Court
, a trial level court, on January 29, 2007. There are three Supreme Court justices who are each appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature
for a ten year term. Reappointments are for life. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice
and two Associate Justice
s. There is no intermediate court of appeals. Appeals of Supreme Court decisions are heard by writ of certiorari by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
during the Supreme Court’s first fifteen years unless the United States Congress
acts to shorten the oversight period. Thereafter, appeals from the Virgin Islands Supreme Court will be to the United States Supreme Court.
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
of the Virgin Islands is the highest court in the territory of the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
. The Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over appeals from the Superior Court
United States Virgin Islands Superior Court
The Virgin Islands Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the United States Virgin Islands. The court is composed of nine Judges. They are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature. Effective January 29, 2007 the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands assumed...
, a trial level court, on January 29, 2007. There are three Supreme Court justices who are each appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature
Legislature of the Virgin Islands
The Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the territorial legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. The legislative branch of the unincorporated U.S. territory is unicameral, with a single house consisting of 15 senators, elected to two-year terms without term limits. The territorial...
for a ten year term. Reappointments are for life. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
and two Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
s. There is no intermediate court of appeals. Appeals of Supreme Court decisions are heard by writ of certiorari by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
during the Supreme Court’s first fifteen years unless the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
acts to shorten the oversight period. Thereafter, appeals from the Virgin Islands Supreme Court will be to the United States Supreme Court.