Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions
Chapter 3 — Hawaii
§ 644a. Jurisdiction of district court of cases arising on or within Midway, Wake, Johnston, Sand, etc., Islands; laws applicable to jury trials
Statutory text
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 , 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.
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.
Pub. L. 81–253 · 64 Stat. 217
Enacted · 48 U.S.C. § 644a
June 15, 1950, ch. 253, 64 Stat. 217
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 15, 1950, ch. 253, 64 Stat. 217Pub. L. 86–3 § 14(j) · 73 Stat. 4
Changed · 48 U.S.C. § 644a
Pub. L. 86–3 extended jurisdiction to cases arising on or within Palmyra Island
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 86–3 extended jurisdiction to cases arising on or within Palmyra Island.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(j) the Act of June 15, 1950 (64 Stat. 217; 48 U.S.C., sec. 644a), is amended by inserting after “Kure Island” and before “Baker Island” the words “Palmyra Island,”.Effective date note
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.Hawaii Omnibus Act
Pub. L. 86–624 § 19 · 74 Stat. 411
Struck · 48 U.S.C. § 644a
Pub. L. 86–624 struck out Kure Island
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 86–624 struck out Kure Island.Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 19. judiciary Title 28, United States Code, section 91, and the Act of 62 Stat. 277. 48 USC 644a. June 15, 1950 (64 Stat. 217), as amended, are each amended by striking out the words “Kure Island,”.
2 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Editorial Notes
Amendments1959–1960 · 2 rounds
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 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 , on issuance of Proc. No. 3309, , 25 F.R. 6868, 73 Stat. c74, as required by sections 1 and 7(c) of Pub. L. 86–3, , 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 , the United States recognized the sovereignty of Kiribati over Canton Island and Enderbury Island.
Credits
1950–1960 · 3 acts
- 1950June 15, 1950, ch. 253, 64 Stat. 217
- 1959Pub. L. 86–3, § 14(j), , 73 Stat. 11
- 1960Pub. L. 86–624, § 19, , 74 Stat. 416.
Show as published
(June 15, 1950, ch. 253, 64 Stat. 217; Pub. L. 86–3, § 14(j), , 73 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 86–624, § 19, , 74 Stat. 416.)