Queenie Henneman

Superior Court of the Virgin Islands

Since it was established in 1977, the Superior Court has served as the trial court of general jurisdiction for the Virgin Islands. The Superior Court has broad jurisdiction in addressing the legal needs of the Virgin Islands community. The Court hears all local trial matters including civil, criminal, family, probate, landlord-tenant, small claims and traffic. It also acts as a court of appeals for decisions of all governmental officers and agencies. Decisions of the Superior Court were previously reviewed by a panel of the Appellate Division of the District Court of the Virgin Islands, consisting of panels of two federal District Court Judges, and a Superior Court Judge. However, on October 29, 2004, Act No. 6687, established a Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands as the local appellate court and which now has authority to review decisions of the Superior Court. Parties may seek further review by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, with final review resting in the United States Supreme Court.