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Title 48 — Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-73not60

§1392 Local Laws Continued; Courts

Title 48 › Chapter 7— VIRGIN ISLANDS › Subchapter I— GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1392

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Laws about voting and other local rules that were in force on January 17, 1917, including the code published at Amalienborg on April 6, 1906, must stay in effect until Congress changes them, as long as they fit with the islands' changed sovereignty and do not conflict with this law and with sections 1391 and 1394–1396. Local civil officials and courts must carry out and enforce those laws. The colonial council may change or repeal them only with the President’s approval or under rules the President sets. Local courts can hear any case in the islands where the United States or any U.S. citizen is a party.

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 11 See References in Text note below. 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approval of the President, or under such rules and regulations as the President may prescribe, any of said laws may be repealed, altered, or amended by the colonial council having jurisdiction.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section 1391 of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by Pub.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1948—Act June 25, 1948, repealed last sentence relating to appeals.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

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60