Title I: Amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to permit prosecution in the district court of all offenses against Federal and local laws to be had by indictment by grand jury or by information. Authorizes the establishment of a local appellate court.
Authorizes the legislature of the Virgin Islands to vest in the local courts jurisdiction over all causes in the Virgin Islands subject to the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction of the District Court of the Virgin Islands.
Grants to the district court the jurisdiction of a Federal bankruptcy court, if specified provisions are met.
Grants to the district court general original jurisdiction over all causes of action in the Virgin Islands the jurisdiction over which is not exclusively vested by local law in the local courts. Grants jurisdiction over certain minor civil and criminal cases to the local courts. Grants concurrent jurisdiction to the district court and the local courts over criminal offenses against the laws of the Virgin Islands that are similar to statutes over which the district court has jurisdiction.
Declares that relations between the Federal courts and the local courts shall be the same as relations between the Federal courts and State courts. Provides that, for 15 years following the establishment of a local appellate court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (rather than the U.S. Supreme Court) shall have jurisdiction over appeals from all final decisions of the highest court of the Virgin Islands on Federal questions. Deletes certain provisions of the Act that have been replaced by later law.
Authorizes the appellate division of the district court to review, until the local appellate court is established, the judgments and orders of the local courts. Prohibits the Virgin Islands legislature from precluding the review of a judgment involving a Federal question. Sets forth the membership of the appellate division of the district court. Grants the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit jurisdiction over appeals from all final decisions of the appellate division of the district court involving Federal questions. Prohibits the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from reviewing causes of action governed by the laws of the Virgin Islands unless Federal questions are involved.
Changes the term of office for judges of the district court from eight years to ten years.
Makes the Federal rules of civil and criminal procedure applicable, where appropriate, to the district court and to appeals from the district court.
Sets forth the judicial divisions of the Virgin Islands.
Requires that all officials of the Virgin Islands government who report to the Governor, as well as all members of the legislature, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and all judges shall be U.S. citizens. Deletes the provision requiring such persons to file a loyalty statement.
Declares that the Federal Government's relations with the Virgin Islands' Government shall be under the general administrative supervision of the Secretary of the Interior. Requires the Governor to make an annual report to the Secretary on the transactions of the Virgin Islands' Government.
Authorizes the recall of elected public officials. Sets forth the procedure for setting up a recall election. Deletes the provision authorizing a referendum election.
Repeals certain provisions of the Organic Act of the Virgin Islands and specified sections of other Acts that have been replaced by later law.
Title II: Amends the Organic Act of Guam to grant the District Court of Guam the jurisdiction of a Federal bankruptcy court. Requires the district court to determine the requirements of indictment by grand jury or trial by jury for local causes of action.
Authorizes the Guam legislature to establish an appellate court on or after January 1, 1983. Authorizes the legislature to vest in the local courts jurisdiction subject to the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction of the district court over all causes of action in Guam.
Declares that relations between the Federal courts and the local courts of Guam shall be the same as relations between the Federal courts and State courts. Provides that, for 15 years following the establishment of a local appellate court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (rather than the U.S. Supreme Court) shall have jurisdiction over appeals from all final decisions of the highest court of Guam on Federal questions.
Authorizes the appellate division of the district court to review, until the local appellate court is established, the judgments and orders of the local courts. Prohibits local law from precluding review of a judgment involving a Federal question. Sets forth the membership of the appellate division of this district court. Grants the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit jurisdiction over appeals from all final decisions of the appellate division of the district court involving Federal questions. Prohibits the court of appeals from reviewing causes of action governed by Guam's laws unless Federal questions are involved.
Makes the Federal rules of civil and criminal procedure applicable, where appropriate, to the district court and to appeals from the district court.
Changes the term of office for judges of the District Court of Guam from eight years to ten years. Repeals a provision of the law relating to grand jury indictments on Guam.
Title III: Changes the term of office for judges of the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands from eight years to ten years.
Grants the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands the jurisdiction of a Federal bankruptcy court. Limits the jurisdiction of the district court with respect to the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
Grants the district court authority to review, until the establishment of an appellate court for the Northern Marina Islands, the judgments and orders of the local courts. Prohibits the laws of the Northern Mariana Islands from precluding the review of a judgment involving a Federal question.
Grants the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit jurisdiction over appeals from all final decisions of the appellate division of the district court involving Federal questions. Prohibits the court of appeals for the Ninth Circuit from reviewing causes of action governed by the laws of the Northern Mariana Islands unless Federal questions are involved.
Title IV: Repeals specified sections of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 that are incorporated in this Act.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Referred to Subcommittee on Insular Affairs.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
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