US Virgin Islands

The United States Virgin Islands (abbreviated USVI; also called the U.S. Virgin Islands or American Virgin Islands), officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles to the east of Puerto Rico and west of the British Virgin Islands.

The U.S. Virgin Islands consists of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, and many other surrounding minor islands. Previously known as the Danish West Indies of the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway (from 1754 to 1814) and the independent Kingdom of Denmark (from 1814 to 1917), they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the 1917 Treaty of the Danish West Indies.

 They are classified by the United Nations as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, and are currently an organized, unincorporated United States territory. The U.S. Virgin Islands are organized under the 1954 Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands and have since held five constitutional conventions.

The U.S. Virgin Islands have a District CourtSuperior Court and the Supreme Court.  The District Court is responsible for federal law, while the Superior Court is responsible for U.S. Virgin Islands law at the trial level and the Supreme Court is responsible for appeals from the Superior Court for all appeals filed on or after January 29, 2007.  Appeals filed prior to that date are heard by the Appellate Division of the District Court. Appeals from the federal District Court are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, located in PhiladelphiaPennsylvania.  District Court judges are appointed by the U.S. president, while Superior Court and Supreme Court judges are appointed by the governor.

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Nov
14
2023
Island Nations Ask UN Tribunal to Spell Out Large Countries’ Obligations to Protect Oceans Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Aug
25
2023
Three Arrows Capital Co-Founder Avoids Contempt and Sanctions in United States, But Bankruptcy Court Previews Worldwide Enforcement Options Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
May
29
2023
Investigation Spurs Launch of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Environmental Crimes Task Force Oberheiden P.C.
Mar
14
2023
EPA Announces P2 Grant for Environmental Justice through Safer and More Sustainable Products Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Dec
22
2022
U.S. Virgin Islands Supreme Court Affirms Compensatory Damages Award to Former Employee Claiming Age Discrimination Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Apr
18
2022
U.S. Virgin Islands Enacts CROWN Act to Ban Discrimination on the Basis of Hair Texture and Protected Hairstyles Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Apr
27
2021
$1.28 Million Seized and Four Men Arrested in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, by Homeland Security Investigations Norris McLaughlin P.A.
Oct
30
2020
Time to Vote: Employee and Employer Voting Leave Rights and Obligations for the 2020 Elections Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Oct
29
2020
Election Night for Insurance Geeks: 2020 Edition Faegre Drinker
Oct
6
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Sep
17
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Navigating COVID-19 Inquiries and Disclosures Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Sep
10
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Compensating Hourly Employees for Regular and Overtime Hours Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jul
31
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Accommodating Disabled or High-Risk Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jul
11
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: COVID-19 Guidance for Restaurants, Bars and Nightclubs Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jul
11
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Restaurants, Bars, and Nightclubs; Travel Requirements; and Reinstatement of Plant Closing Act Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jul
7
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Consider the Implications of the Supreme Court’s Bostock Decision Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jun
17
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Workplace Rules and Disciplinary Actions Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jun
3
2020
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Sexual Harassment Prevention Policies and Training Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jun
3
2020
Pandemic Furloughs in Place? Time to Assess Your WARN Obligations Faegre Drinker
 

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