
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 48USC1613]

 
              TITLE 48--TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS
 
                       CHAPTER 12--VIRGIN ISLANDS
 
                      SUBCHAPTER V--JUDICIAL BRANCH
 
Sec. 1613. Relations between courts of United States and courts 
        of Virgin Islands; review by United States Court of Appeals for 
        Third Circuit; reports to Congress; rules
        
    The relations between the courts established by the Constitution or 
laws of the United States and the courts established by local law with 
respect to appeals, certiorari, removal of causes, the issuance of writs 
of habeas corpus, and other matters or proceedings shall be governed by 
the laws of the United States pertaining to the relations between the 
courts of the United States, including the Supreme Court of the United 
States, and the courts of the several States in such matters and 
proceedings: Provided, That for the first fifteen years following the 
establishment of the appellate court authorized by section 1611(a) of 
this title, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 
shall have jurisdiction to review by writ of certiorari all final 
decisions of the highest court of the Virgin Islands from which a 
decision could be had. The Judicial Council of the Third Circuit shall 
submit reports to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives at intervals of five years following the establishment 
of such appellate court as to whether it has developed sufficient 
institutional traditions to justify direct review by the Supreme Court 
of the United States from all such final decisions. The United States 
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit shall have jurisdiction to 
promulgate rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, Sec. 23, 68 Stat. 506; Pub. L. 98-454, title 
VII, Sec. 704, Oct. 5, 1984, 98 Stat. 1739; Pub. L. 103-437, 
Sec. 17(a)(4), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4595.)


                               Amendments

    1994--Pub. L. 103-437 substituted ``Natural Resources'' for 
``Interior and Insular Affairs'' before ``of the House''.
    1984--Pub. L. 98-454 amended section generally, substituting 
provisions relating to the relations between local law courts and 
already established courts under the Constitution or laws of the United 
States with respect to appeals, certiorari, etc. and providing that the 
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit shall have jurisdiction to review 
all final decisions from the highest court of the Virgin Islands for 
fifteen years after the appellate court is established for former 
provisions relating to the jurisdiction of inferior courts, transfer of 
actions, status as committing court, bail and rules.


                    Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 98-454 effective on ninetieth day following 
Oct. 5, 1984, see section 1005 of Pub. L. 98-454, set out as a note 
under section 1424 of this title.

                         Change of Name

    Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives treated 
as referring to Committee on Resources of House of Representatives by 
section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104-14, set out as a note preceding section 21 
of Title 2, The Congress.
