§ 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

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 1954

   Pub. L. 83–558 § 23 · 68 Stat. 587

   Enacted · 48 U.S.C. § 1613

   July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 23, 68 Stat. 506

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 23, 68 Stat. 506

2. 1984

   Pub. L. 98–454 title VII § 704 · 98 Stat. 1732

   1. Amended · 48 U.S.C. § 1613

      Pub. L. 98–454 amended section generally

   2. Substituted · 48 U.S.C. § 1613

      Pub. L. 98–454 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

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   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.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   Sec. 704. Section 23 of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Courts, U.S. Islands (68 Stat. 506; 48 U.S.C. 1613) is ended toam read as follows: “Sec. 23. 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 Ante, p. 1737. 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 21(a) of this Act, 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 Reports. the Third Circuit shall submit reports to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs 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.”.

3. 1994

   Pub. L. 103–437 § 17(a)(4) · 108 Stat. 4581

   Substituted · 48 U.S.C. § 1613

   Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Natural Resources” for “Interior and Insular Affairs” before “of the House”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Natural Resources” for “Interior and Insular Affairs” before “of the House”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (4) section 23 of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (48 U.S.C. 1613).

4. 2012

   Pub. L. 112–226 § 1 · 126 Stat. 1606

   Substituted · 48 U.S.C. § 1613

   Pub. L. 112–226 substituted a period for “: 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.” at end

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 112–226 substituted a period for “: 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.” at end.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   SECTION 1. DIRECT REVIEW BY U.S. SUPREME COURT OF DECISIONS OF VIRGIN ISLANDS SUPREME COURT.   Section 23 of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (48 U.S.C. 1613) is amended by striking “: Provided, That” and all that follows through the end and inserting a period.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 112–226 applicable to cases commenced on or after Dec. 28, 2012, see section 3 of Pub. L. 112–226, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1260 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

4 of 5 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial