Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
Congress in 1984 authorized the establishment of an appellate court for the Virgin Islands to be created by the Legislature in its discretion. In 2004 the Legislature, acting on such Congressional authority, established the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands as the highest court of the Virgin Islands. The Court assumed its appellate jurisdiction on January 29, 2007. The court presently consists of a chief justice and two associate justices. The court is assisted by the service of active judges of the Superior Court and of retired judges of courts of record of the Virgin Islands who serve as Designated Justices to fill vacancies on the court caused by disqualifications or other absences.
The Virgin Islands Supreme Court is the equivalent of a state supreme court. As the highest court for the Virgin Islands, the Supreme Court is authorized to review all final orders, judgments and specified interlocutory orders of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. Cases before the court are determined by three justices and a decision by two justices is required for a decision of the court.
The Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction over members of the legal profession and of admissions to the bar. The Court oversees the established organized integrated Virgin Islands Bar Association and has the power to approve the rules regarding attorney discipline. The Court also approves the rules regarding attorney conduct and has established rules governing the admission of members of the Virgin Islands Bar Virgin Islands Bar; and the discipline of attorneys and the practice of law in the Virgin Islands.