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Title 48, Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-110

§1392 Local Laws Continued; Courts

Title 48 › CHAPTER 7 — VIRGIN ISLANDS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1392

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Local election rules in the Amalienborg code from April 6, 1906, and other local laws that were in force on January 17, 1917 will continue to apply in the islands so long as they fit with the islands’ changed sovereignty and do not conflict with this law or with sections 1391 and 1394–1396. Local civil officials and the islands’ courts will carry out and enforce those laws and court orders. The local colonial council can change or repeal those laws if the President approves or sets rules allowing it. The islands’ courts may hear any case there that involves the United States or any U.S. citizen.

Full Legal Text

Title 48, §1392

Territories and Insular Possessions, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Until Congress shall otherwise provide, insofar as compatible with the changed sovereignty and not in conflict with the provisions of this section and section 1391 and 1394 to 1396 of this title, the laws regulating elections and the electoral franchise as set forth in the code of laws published at Amalienborg the 6th day of April, 1906, and the other local laws, in force and effect in said islands on the 17th day of January, 1917, shall remain in force and effect in said islands, and the same shall be administered by the civil officials and through the local judicial tribunals established in said islands, respectively; and the orders, judgments, and decrees of said judicial tribunals shall be duly enforced. With the approval of the President, or under such rules and regulations as the President may prescribe, any of said laws may be repealed, altered, or amended by the colonial council having jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the judicial tribunals of said islands shall extend to all judicial proceedings and controversies in said islands to which the United States or any citizen thereof may be a party.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 1391 of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 643.

Amendments

1948—Act June 25, 1948, repealed last sentence relating to appeals. See section 1294 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1948 AmendmentAmendment by act June 25, 1948, effective Sept. 1, 1948, see section 38 of that act set out as an

Effective Date

note preceding section 1 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

48 U.S.C. § 1392

Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110