2010 Annual Report - Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
2010 Annual Report - Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
2010 Annual Report - Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
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COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL<br />
CONDUCT<br />
The decision <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United States <strong>Court</strong> <strong>of</strong> Appeals for <strong>the</strong><br />
Third Circuit in Kendall v. Russell, 572 F.3d 126 (3d Cir. 2009)<br />
nullified <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> Commission on Judicial Disabilities,<br />
established by Act 3876 and codified at 4 V.I.C. §§ 651-59, leaving<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> without a mechanism to discipline judicial<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>. Recognizing that <strong>the</strong> regulation<br />
<strong>of</strong> judicial conduct in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> is critical to preserving<br />
<strong>the</strong> integrity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>’ judiciary and enhancing<br />
public confidence in <strong>the</strong> judicial system, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Supreme</strong> <strong>Court</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> promulgated Rule 209 constituting <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> Rules <strong>of</strong> Judicial Disciplinary Enforcement.<br />
The rule established <strong>the</strong> Commission on Judicial Conduct to<br />
administer a judicial discipline and incapacity system for judicial<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficers, which includes Justices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Supreme</strong> <strong>Court</strong>, and <strong>the</strong><br />
Judges and Magistrates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Superior <strong>Court</strong>. The Commission<br />
has jurisdiction over all judges and justices regarding allegations<br />
<strong>of</strong> misconduct that may have occurred as a judge and regarding<br />
allegations <strong>of</strong> incapacity during service as a judge.<br />
In September <strong>of</strong> <strong>2010</strong>, <strong>the</strong> following members were appointed to<br />
serve staggered terms on <strong>the</strong> Commission:<br />
• Attorney Treston Moore has been appointed as an Attorney<br />
Appointee to <strong>the</strong> Commission by Hon. Governor John P.<br />
DeJongh. Attorney Moore’s term shall expire on August 1,<br />
2014.<br />
• Mr. Angel Morales has been appointed as a Public Member<br />
to <strong>the</strong> Commission by Hon. Governor John P. DeJongh.<br />
Mr. Morales’ term shall expire on August 1, 2013.<br />
• Superior <strong>Court</strong> Judges Julio Brady and James S. Carroll<br />
III, both have been appointed as Judicial Members to <strong>the</strong><br />
Commission by Chief Justice Rhys S. Hodge. Judge Brady’s<br />
term shall expire on August 1, 2014. Judge Carroll’s term<br />
shall expire on August 1, 2013.<br />
• Magistrate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Superior <strong>Court</strong> Jessica Gallivan has<br />
been appointed as a Judicial Member to <strong>the</strong> Commission<br />
by Presiding Judge Darryl Dean Donohue. Magistrate<br />
Gallivan’s term shall expire on August 1, 2012.<br />
• Attorney Emile Henderson III has been appointed as an<br />
Attorney Member to <strong>the</strong> Commission by Presiding Judge<br />
Darryl Dean Donohue. Attorney Henderson’s term shall<br />
expire on August 1, 2013.<br />
• Ms. Sharmane Brooks and Mr. Gaylord Sprauve both have<br />
been appointed as Public Members to <strong>the</strong> Commission by<br />
Senate President Louis P. Hill. Ms. Brooks’ term shall<br />
expire on August 1, 2012. Mr. Sprauve’s term shall expire<br />
on August 1, 2014.<br />
• Attorney Andrew Capdeville has been appointed as an<br />
Attorney Appointee to <strong>the</strong> Commission by Attorney<br />
Richard Evangelista, President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
Bar Association. Attorney Capdeville’s term shall expire on<br />
August 1, 2012.<br />
The Commission operates as an independent entity and is not<br />
subject to <strong>the</strong> direction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief Justice or o<strong>the</strong>r members <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Supreme</strong> <strong>Court</strong>. The Commission has met and established<br />
its own Internal Operating Procedures and leadership. Although<br />
occurring in fiscal year 2011, <strong>the</strong> Commission is now functional<br />
and has launched a website at www.vicjc.org that will serve to<br />
educate <strong>the</strong> public and members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Virgin</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> Bar on its<br />
rules and operating procedures, while undertaking its task <strong>of</strong><br />
processing any claims filed.<br />
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