Legal System of Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands is located in Central America N Caribbean. It is geographically situated in caribbean, islands between the caribbean sea and the north atlantic ocean, east of puerto rico. The country achieved independence on none (territory of the us). The capital is Charlotte Amalie.

Government Overview

Government Type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches Chief of State: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025) Head of Government: Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019) Cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate Administrative Divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 islands are considered second-order: Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas National Holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Virgin Islands is described as uS common law

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices) Judge Selection: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term Subordinate Courts: Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district); District Court of the Virgin Islands

Legislative Branch

Note: note: the Virgin Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote

Citizenship and Suffrage

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands’ economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Virgin Islands based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.