Nov. 20, 2006 — V.I. Superior Court Judge Patricia D. Steele received unanimous approval for renomination to the Superior Court by the Senate Rules Committee, meeting Monday at the Legislative Hall in Frederiksted.
The V.I. Bar Association rated Steele highly qualified or qualified in all categories. "I don't think I have seen any judge receive such high honors," said attorney Maxwell G. McIntosh after reading the document into the record.
Steele, the sole Family Court judge on St. Croix, heard questions from members of the committee on a range of subjects, including youth offenders, statutory rape, domestic violence, divorce, parental responsibility and judicial demeanor. Steele has presided over Family Court matters since 2004.
"The problem with repeat offenders is in the home," Steele said. Parents get so frustrated "they throw their hands up and walk away from their children," she said. The statute referring to contributing to the delinquency of a minor is "vague," she said, and parents "wiggle out of it."
"Can laws dictate parental responsibility?" asked Sen. Terrence Nelson. "Parents," Steele said in response, don't usually accompany juveniles to court "mothers" do. "They usually have little influence over their sons," she said. "This is where we are."
Steele suggested regular parenting classes in all housing communities, but the senators wondered whether anyone would attend. "There may be resistance, but we cannot give up," said Steele. "Give the money to [the Department of] Human Services; they will know what to do."
The statute dealing with minors having sexual relations with minors "causes confusion and needs rewording," Steele said, adding young people need more counseling and intervention in the schools.
Apparently still miffed at Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's action in October to speed up the nomination process, Russell spoke several times on the absence of senators at the meeting. "We are showing the shortcomings and fallacies of this institution," Russell said.
On Oct. 4, Russell sent a letter to Turnbull requesting the governor withhold sending further nominations to the Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee so close to the Nov. 7 election. The governor responded by taking Russell task for his comments. (See "Governor Slams Russell for Adjourning Senate.")
All senators present approved Steele's renomination. The full body will act on the renomination in early December, Russell said.
Present at the meeting were Sens. Pedro Encarnacion, Juan Figueroa Serville, Terrence Nelson and Russell. Sens. Lorraine L. Berry, Roosevelt St. C. David and Louis P. Hill were excused.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
