The top federal judge in the Virgin Islands recently welcomed a newly-appointed magistrate judge for the St. Thomas-St. John district. Chief District Judge Robert Molloy officiated over the investiture of attorney G. Alan Teague at a ceremony held last week, according to a statement issued Wednesday.
Teague is replacing former-U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller who retired on July 29 after 14 years of service.
Teague — best known as a civil litigator — once served as a clerk for Superior Court Judge Patricia Steele. His resume includes 24 years of legal practice, 16 of which were performed in the Virgin Islands. The new magistrate judge also practiced stateside with a top-rated insurance defense firm, and was named a director in 2018 with the then-newly-formed law firm of Meade & Teague LLC.
Teague previously served with the Virgin Islands Bar Association on its Board of Governors. He also coached high school students participating in the annual V.I. Moot Court competition as an attorney coach.
In addition to his background in civil law, the new judge is credited for having experience with criminal law, and has worked to defend indigent citizens in the territory, according to the announcement of his appointment from the District Court.
In a separate announcement, administrators also announced Miller’s new appointment as a recall magistrate judge.
The duties of a federal magistrate include presiding over initial appearances and arraignments for criminal defendants; in the Virgin Islands they also conduct traffic court for offenses within the bounds of the Virgin Islands National Park. They also handle legal cases involving seagoing vessels and other maritime matters.
In most districts, magistrate judges also conduct pretrial proceedings in civil and criminal cases. A provision of federal law under 28 U.S. Code § 375 allows retired jurists to continue performing the duties that were there prior to leaving the bench. She is expected to perform continued service in the St. Thomas-St. John District, although the statute says recall magistrates may also “serve in any other judicial district to the extent applicable.”
Miller’s term under her new designation officially began Tuesday and lasts up to five years.
