Chief Justice Rhys S. Hodge, Presiding Judge Debra S. Watlington and Administrator of Courts Regina Petersen announce the submission today of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Judiciary of the Virgin Islands, and the publication of the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report of the U. S. Virgin Islands Judiciary and Court System. For Fiscal Year 2024, the Judiciary requests an appropriation of $49,571,061 to fund the operations of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands and the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, along with $131, 150 to fund the salaries of 2 Law Librarians under the Judicial Council of the Virgin Islands. The request also includes an additional request of $3,050,020 to fund the expansion of the Supreme Court from 3 to 5 Justices, as authorized in Act 7888 which was signed into law in 2016, as well an Office of Conflict Counsel to ensure that the Territory meets constitutional mandates for providing indigent defense.