
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 48USC644a]

 
              TITLE 48--TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS
 
                            CHAPTER 3--HAWAII
 
Sec. 644a. Jurisdiction of district court of cases arising on or 
        within Midway, Wake, Johnston, Sand, etc., Islands; laws 
        applicable to jury trials
        
    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.

(June 15, 1950, ch. 253, 64 Stat. 217; Pub. L. 86-3, Sec. 14(j), Mar. 
18, 1959, 73 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 86-624, Sec. 19, July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 
416.)


                               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.


                    Effective Date of 1959 Amendment

    Amendment 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 sections 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 Kiribati

    By 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.


                            Cross References

    Juries and trial by jury, generally, see chapter 121 of Title 28, 
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
    Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States 
defined, see section 7 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
    United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, see section 
91 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
    Venue of offenses committed upon high seas or out of the 
jurisdiction of any State or district, see section 3238 of Title 18, 
Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
