Title 4 — Judiciary
22 chapters · 138 sections in this title.
4 V.I.C. § 1 Judicial divisions
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Except as with respect to the Supreme Court the Territory of the Virgin Islands is divided into two judicial divisions: the division of Saint Croix, comprising the island of Saint Croix and adjacent islands and cays, and the division of Saint Thomas and Saint John, comprising the…
4 V.I.C. § 2 Courts of the Territory
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(a) The judicial power of the Territory is vested in a court of general jurisdiction created by section 21 of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, approved July 22, 1954, as amended, designated the “District Court of the Virgin Islands”, and in courts of local jurisdict…
4 V.I.C. § 3 Consolidation of municipal courts into single court
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On and after March 1, 1965, the two municipal courts heretofore known as the Municipal Court of St. Croix and the Municipal Court of St. Thomas and St. John are consolidated into a single court which shall be designated “The Municipal Court of the Virgin Islands”, as provided by …
4 V.I.C. § 4 Judicial Branch Administrative Office; Administrator of Courts
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(a) The Chief Justice serves as the administrative head of the judicial branch of the Virgin Islands, and the Supreme Court as the administrative policy-making body of the entire Virgin Islands court system pursuant to 4 V.I.C. §§ 30, 31(d)(1)(3), and 32(e) and (f). (b) Under the…
4 V.I.C. § 5 Advisory committee
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(a) The Supreme Court shall establish an advisory committee to assist the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice, the Presiding Judge, the Superior Court, and the Administrative Office in exercising their administrative duties. The Chief Justice shall serve as chair of the advisory com…
4 V.I.C. § 6 Judicial conferences
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The Chief Justice may call for judicial conferences to discuss any matter that affects the administration of the Virgin Islands judiciary. Every justice, judge, and magistrate judge of the Virgin Islands judiciary is entitled to attend the judicial conference. Non-judges, such as…
4 V.I.C. § 21 Establishment; composition; sessions; seal
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(a) The Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands is established pursuant to section 21(a) of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, as amended, as the highest court of the Virgin Islands and in it shall be reposed the supreme judicial power of the Territory. As used in this ch…
4 V.I.C. § 22 Nomination and appointment of justices; selection of chief justice; prohibitions on practice of law and outside employment
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(a) The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Legislature, no fewer than three but no more than five justices and subject to the advice and consent of the Legislature, appoint a qualified person to fill any vacancy occurring in the office of justice in the Su…
4 V.I.C. § 23 Temporary absence of Chief Justice
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(a) The Chief Justice presides at all sessions of the Supreme Court. (b) Whenever the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virgin Islands is, because of illness, disqualification, conflict, recusal, or by any other temporary absence disabled from actively performing his duties a…
4 V.I.C. § 24 Assignment of retired justices and judges to sit in court
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(a) In addition to the justices appointed under subsection 22(a), the Chief Justice may appoint any judge of a court of record in the Virgin Islands or any senior or retired justice to sit as a designated justice of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands. A retired judge may als…
4 V.I.C. § 25 Involuntary retirement
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Pursuant to title 4 V.I.C. chapter 36, a justice of the Supreme Court shall be involuntarily retired from office when the Commission on Judicial Conduct determines that the justice suffers from a mental or physical disability, including habitual intemperance, which prevents, or s…
4 V.I.C. § 26 Restrictions on practice of law by retired justices
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(a) No justice who is a member of the Government Employees Retirement System, while receiving a retirement annuity in connection with retirement from service under this chapter, may engage in the practice of law before any of the courts of the Virgin Islands as an employee or off…
4 V.I.C. § 27 Removal of justices; forfeiture of office
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(a) The Justices of the Supreme Court are subject to removal pursuant to title 4 V.I.C. chapter 36, and any justice removed may not exercise his office until exonerated. (b) A justice who becomes a candidate for an elective public office shall thereby forfeit his judicial office.…
4 V.I.C. § 28 Rules of conduct for justices
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The Supreme Court shall make rules for the conduct of justices, both on and off the bench. In addition, the Supreme Court may adopt the relevant and applicable provisions of the American Bar Association Model Code of Judicial Conduct to govern the conduct of justices.
4 V.I.C. § 29 Compensation of justices
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(a) The Chief Justice shall receive as compensation an annual salary fifteen percent higher than the annual salary of the presiding judge of the Superior Court, and each of the full-time associate justices shall receive an annual salary five thousand dollars lower than the annual…
4 V.I.C. § 30 Appointment of officers and employees; office space
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(a) The Supreme Court may employ such professional, administrative and clerical personnel as it considers necessary. (b) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may appoint and fix the terms, duties and compensation of the officers and employees of the Court. (c) (1) The Supreme C…
4 V.I.C. § 31 Internal procedures of the Supreme Court
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(a) Decisions concerning substantive matters. In hearing and determining the merits of cases before it, the Supreme Court initially sits in a three justice panel. A decision is determined by a majority vote of a panel. If a majority of the panel is unable to agree on a decision, …
4 V.I.C. § 32 Jurisdiction
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(a) The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over all appeals arising from final judgments, final decrees or final orders of the Superior Court, or as otherwise provided by law. (b) The Supreme Court shall have all inherent powers, including the power to issue all writs necessar…
4 V.I.C. § 33 Availability of appealable judgments and orders
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(a) Appealable judgments and orders to the Supreme Court shall be available only upon the entry of final judgment in the Superior Court from which appeal or application for review is taken. (b) Interlocutory review-civil. The Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands has jurisdiction o…
4 V.I.C. § 34 Court rules
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(a) The Supreme Court may, from time to time, promulgate or amend general rules, or where it considers it best for the advancement of justice, may make special orders, provide for the conduct of the business of the Court, and regulate the practice and procedure governing causes a…
4 V.I.C. § 35 Repealed. Oct. 29, 2004, No. 6687, § 13(a), Sess. L. 2004, p. 190
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4 V.I.C. § 35 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 36 Repealed. Oct. 29, 2004, No. 6687, § 13(a), Sess. L. 2004, p. 190
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4 V.I.C. § 36 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 37 Repealed. Oct. 29, 2004, No. 6687, § 13(a), Sess. L. 2004, p. 190
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4 V.I.C. § 37 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 38 Repealed. Oct. 29, 2004, No. 6687, § 13(a), Sess. L. 2004, p. 190
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4 V.I.C. § 38 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 39 Repealed. Oct. 29, 2004, No. 6687, § 13(a), Sess. L. 2004, p. 190
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4 V.I.C. § 39 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 40 Repealed. Oct. 29, 2004, No. 6687, § 13(a), Sess. L. 2004, p. 190
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4 V.I.C. § 40 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 71 Composition
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(a) The Superior Court of the Virgin Islands shall consist of not less than six (6) judges learned in the law, one half of whom shall reside in the division of St. Croix and one half of whom shall reside in the division of St. Thomas-St. John and two of whom must be judges of the…
4 V.I.C. § 72 Selection, appointment, qualifications and salaries of judges
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(a) The judges of the Superior Court shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature. Judges so appointed shall continue in office until their successors are appointed and confirmed or until they are renominated and confirmed, but in no event sha…
4 V.I.C. § 72a [Reserved.]
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4 V.I.C. § 72a Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 72b General powers and duties of presiding judge; designation of judges and division of business
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(a) The presiding judge of the Superior Court shall be the administrative head of the Superior Court and shall preside at all sessions of the court which he attends. He shall be responsible for the observance by the court of the rules adopted by the Supreme court governing the pr…
4 V.I.C. § 73 Tenure of judges
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The judges of the Superior Court shall hold their offices for a term of six years unless sooner retired or removed in accordance with the provisions of this title.
4 V.I.C. § 74 Repealed. Oct. 29, 2004, No. 6687, § 13(b), Sess. L. 2004, p. 190
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4 V.I.C. § 74 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 74a Utilization of retired judges
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Pursuant to detailed court rules promulgated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, former judges of the Courts of the Virgin Islands who completed at least 12 years of service as a Judge of the Superior or Supreme Court, and are not actively engaged in the practice of law be…
4 V.I.C. § 75 Exclusive jurisdiction
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(1) The Superior Court shall have original, exclusive jurisdiction—(1) of all civil actions wherein the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum or value of $500, exclusive of interest and costs;(2) of all criminal cases wherein the maximum punishment that may be imposed doe…
4 V.I.C. § 76 Original jurisdiction
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(a) Subject to the original jurisdiction conferred on the District Court by section 22 of the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended, effective October 1, 1991, the Superior Court shall have original jurisdiction in all civil actions regardless of the amount in controversy; to s…
4 V.I.C. § 77 Civil actions to be tried in superior court; transfers
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(a) Unless transferred by a judge of the district court, all civil cases originally filed in the Superior Court shall be tried and concluded in that court. (b) A judge of the district court may, in the interest of justice, cause a case or cases pending in the Superior Court to be…
4 V.I.C. § 78 Venue
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(a) All civil actions shall be initiated in the judicial division where the defendant resides or where the cause of action arose or where the defendant may be served with process. Criminal actions shall be brought in the judicial division in which the alleged criminal offense was…
4 V.I.C. § 79 Divisions of the court
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(a) The Superior Court shall be comprised of criminal, civil, traffic, family, magistrate judge's, conciliation and small claims divisions. The court may create such additional divisions as the public interest requires. The presiding judge shall from time to time designate and as…
4 V.I.C. § 80 Jury trials
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Commencing two years from the effective date of the revision of this chapter in the year 1977, in all cases in which the parties are entitled to a trial by jury and in which a jury trial is properly demanded, the action shall be tried to a jury composed by six members unless the …
4 V.I.C. § 81 Jurors; selection and compensation
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(a) The names of prospective jurors shall be drawn from the master jury wheel maintained by the court under a Plan for Random Selection of Jurors, similar to the plan embodied in Part IV of the Rules of the District Court, in such manner and at such times as shall be determined b…
4 V.I.C. § 82 Process
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(a) The process of the Superior Court runs throughout the territory. (b) Service of all process shall be made in any part of the territory by the Virgin Islands marshal and probation officer of the Superior Court and such other persons as may be authorized by law to serve such pr…
4 V.I.C. § 83 Procedure; rules and writs
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The practice and procedure in the Superior court shall be as prescribed by rules adopted by the Supreme Court. Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, the Superior Court may from time to time prescribe rules for the conduct of its business consistent with law and with the r…
4 V.I.C. § 84 Sessions
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The Superior Court shall hold regular sessions in each judicial division at the times and places prescribed by the rules of the court. Special sessions may be held at such times and places as may be required.
4 V.I.C. § 85 Prosecution by the Attorney General
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Except as otherwise provided by law, the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands shall prosecute all offenses and conduct all legal proceedings on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands in the Superior Court.
4 V.I.C. § 86 Clerk; reporters
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The presiding judge of the Superior court shall appoint a clerk for the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. The clerk shall, subject to provisions of sections 4, 5, 6, 31, and 32 of this title, appoint a chief deputy clerk for each judicial division of the court. The clerk, sub…
4 V.I.C. § 87 Microfilming; preservation; destruction of original records
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(a) The Superior Court is hereby authorized to microfilm in duplicate all original records, files and documents, with the exception of traffic tickets, maintained pursuant to its judicial function. All such original records, files and documents shall be retained until reproduced …
4 V.I.C. § 88 Leaves of absence for study with compensation; limitations
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(a) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may grant study leave to personnel of the judicial branch for the purpose of pursuing advanced training courses and programs within or outside the Virgin Islands. (b) Such study leave shall be implemented consistent with the terms and co…
4 V.I.C. § 90 Definitions [Repealed]
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4 V.I.C. § 90 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 91 Office of Administrator [Repealed]
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4 V.I.C. § 91 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
4 V.I.C. § 92 Assistants to Director [Repealed]
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4 V.I.C. § 92 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.