Jan. 13, 2005 –– If you call the Territorial Court today, you will find it doesn't exist. Instead, you will be greeted by, "Good morning, Superior Court."
As of Jan. 1, the court officially became the Superior Court under the same legislation that created the first Supreme Court in the Virgin Islands. It was signed into law by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Oct. 29, 2004.
In legislation sponsored primarily by Sen. Carlton Dowe, the Legislature voted unanimously last October to create a V. I. Supreme Court.
There is now no sitting Supreme Court, as no funding source has yet been identified, Sen. Ronald Russell said Thursday. Russell is now the bill's primary sponsor. He said he will be re-introducing it soon in the 26th Legislature to add amendments.
Meantime, Denise Abramsen, court clerk, said the former Territorial Court is now officially the Superior Court. All reference to the former Territorial Court should now be addressed to the Superior Court, she said.
All pleadings, motions, orders and other documents should be captioned "In the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands." All proposed orders should be prepared for signature of the respective judge of the Superior Court, Abramsen said.
She said all matters heard before the Territorial Court will now be heard in the Superior Court.
She said there is a grace period of 30 days, after which filings that are not properly captioned will not be accepted in court.
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