48 U.S.C. § 644a: Jurisdiction of district…

Summary

Gives the U.S. District Court in Hawaii the power to hear civil and criminal cases that happen on or near a group of Pacific islands, including Midway, Wake, Johnston, Sand, Kingman Reef, Palmyra, Baker, Howland, Jarvis, and, under the April 6, 1939 agreement with the United Kingdom, Canton and Enderbury. The extension for Canton and Enderbury must not harm any U.K. claims under that 1939 agreement. Says that acts, legal deals, and crimes on these islands or in nearby waters are treated as if they happened on the high seas aboard a U.S. merchant or other U.S. ship, and they are handled under U.S. laws for such shipboard cases. U.S. jury rules apply to trials in that court.

Title 48, §644a

Territories and Insular Possessions, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii is extended to all civil and criminal cases arising on or within the Midway Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Sand Island, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Island, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, and, having regard to the special status of Canton and Enderbury Islands pursuant to an agreement of April 6, 1939, between the Governments of the United States and of the United Kingdom to set up a regime for their use in common, the said jurisdiction is also extended to all civil and criminal cases arising on or within Canton Island and Enderbury Island: Provided, That such extension to Canton and Enderbury Islands shall in no way be construed to be prejudicial to the claims of the United Kingdom to said islands in accordance with the agreement. All civil acts and deeds consummated and taking place on any of these islands or in the waters adjacent thereto, and all offenses and crimes committed thereon, or on or in the waters adjacent thereto, shall be deemed to have been consummated or committed on the high seas on board a merchant vessel or other vessel belonging to the United States and shall be adjudicated and determined or adjudged and punished according to the laws of the United States relating to such civil acts or offenses on such ships or vessels on the high seas, which laws for the purpose aforesaid are extended over such islands, rocks, and keys. The laws of the United States relating to juries and jury trials shall be applicable to the trial of such cases before said district court.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1960—Pub. L. 86–624 struck out Kure Island. 1959—Pub. L. 86–3 extended jurisdiction to cases arising on or within Palmyra Island.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1959 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 86–3 effective on admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union, see note set out under section 91 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Admission of Hawaii into the Union was accomplished Aug. 21, 1959, on issuance of Proc. No. 3309, Aug. 21, 1959, 25 F.R. 6868, 73 Stat. c74, as required by section 1 and 7(c) of Pub. L. 86–3, Mar. 18, 1959, 73 Stat. 4, set out as notes preceding section 491 of this title. Canton and Enderbury Islands; Sovereignty of KiribatiBy a treaty of friendship, TIAS 10777, which entered into force Sept. 23, 1983, the United States recognized the sovereignty of Kiribati over Canton Island and Enderbury Island.

§644a Jurisdiction of District Court of Cases Arising on or Within Midway, Wake, Johnston, Sand, Etc., Islands; Laws Applicable to Jury Trials