Chief Justice Rhys S. Hodge today signed an administrative order continuing the suspension of all non-essential judicial branch services and establishing interim procedures through June 1. The decision to extend current COVID-19 protocols is taken in response to additional guidance issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health authorities, as well as the request of Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands to extend the State of Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pursuant to the administrative order, within the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands: All deadlines in all pending appeals which have not yet passed as of the effective date of this order shall automatically be extended by 14 days or to June 1, whichever is longer; deadlines in original proceedings, such as for mandamus or other writs, shall remain in effect unless modified by order issued in the particular case; the time to file a notice of appeal or other initiating document shall be tolled from March 23 through May 31, provided that the time to file the notice of appeal or other initiating document had not already expired prior to March 23.
With respect to the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands: All deadlines in all pending cases which have not yet passed as of the effective date of this order shall automatically be extended by 14 days or to June 1, whichever is longer, provided, however, that the presiding judicial officer may waive this rule and impose earlier filing deadlines in an emergency or expedited case; all temporary restraining orders, injunctions, and stays set to expire on or after March 23, shall automatically be extended by 14 days or to June 1, whichever is longer; provided, however, that the presiding judicial officer may waive this rule or otherwise terminate the temporary restraining order, injunction, stay or judgment; and all orders of foreclosure and orders of eviction not yet executed by March 23, shall automatically be stayed through June 1.
All measures adopted by the Judicial Branch on March 13, March 17 and March 20 that are not inconsistent with today’s administrative order remain in effect. All procedures adopted by the presiding judge in response to the administrative orders and which are not inconsistent with today’s administrative order, also remain in effect. Any order previously entered in the Superior Court may be further modified by the presiding judge with the approval of the chief justice, as necessary.
The judicial branch reminds its employees and the public to follow CDC guidelines in response to this pandemic and to remain vigilant in social distancing.
The public is reminded that in accordance with established emergency schedules most judicial branch employees are working remotely, and court facilities are closed to public traffic. Members of the public needing assistance from the judicial branch are urged to call the appropriate department using the following numbers:
St. Croix District
Court Administration 713-6627
Office of the Clerk of Superior Court 713-6626
Probation and Pre-Trial Services 713-6642
St. Thomas/St. John District
Court Administration 693-4110
Office of the Clerk of Superior Court 693-6403
Probation and Pre-Trial Services 693-6429
Supreme Court
Office of the Clerk of Supreme Court 693-4100
Office of Bar Admissions 693-4120
Office of Disciplinary Counsel 693-4127
The public is further reminded of the following email addresses for the submission of filings to the
Superior Court of the Virgin Islands:
Advice of Rights and Arraignments remoteaorstx@viocurts.org
Complex Litigation Filings CLDCourtesyCopy@vicourts.org
ALL Other Filings superiorcourtefile@vicourts.org
Conventional filings continue to be accepted at all Superior Court locations and at the Supreme Court located in Crown Bay St. Thomas.
For more information, contact:
Regina Petersen, Administrator of Courts
Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands
P.O. Box 590
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00804
Fax: (340) 774‐2258 TTY: 693-4118
