Title 48 — Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-73
§1616 Trial by jury
Title 48 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - VIRGIN ISLANDS [1954] › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - JUDICIAL BRANCH › § 1616
Summary
District court criminal cases get a jury if the defendant or the Government asks; if not, judge may try the case alone or order a jury. Misdemeanors may have six-person juries.
Full Legal Text
Title 48, §1616
Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
All criminal cases originating in the district court shall be tried by jury upon demand by the defendant or by the Government. If no jury is demanded the case shall be tried by the judge of the district court without a jury, except that the judge may, on his own motion, order a jury for the trial of any criminal action. The legislature may provide for trial in misdemeanor cases by a jury of six qualified persons.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1958—Pub. L. 85–851 substituted requirement of jury trial upon demand by defendant or Government for prohibition against denial to any person on demand of either party.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
48 U.S.C. § 1616
Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73