Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/538

 506

63 Stat. 954. 5 USC 1071 note.

PUBLIC LAW 517-JULY 22, 1954

[68

STA T.

the Government Secretary, shall receive annual salaries at rates established by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the standards provided in the Classification Act of 1949. (c) The salaries of the Governor, the Government Secretary, and the members of their immediate staffs shall be paid by the United States. The salaries of the government comptroller and the heads of the executive departments shall be paid by the government of the Virgin Islands; and if the legislature shall fail to make an appropriation for such salaries, the salaries theretofore fixed shall be paid without the necessity of further appropriations therefor. JUDICIAL BRANCH

District Court.

Jurisdiction.

Inferior courts. Jurisdiction.

Appointment o f District Court judge, e t c.

SEC. 21. The judicial power of the Virgin Islands shall be vested in a court of record to be designated the "District Court of the Virgin Islands", and in such court or courts of inferior jurisdiction as may have been or may hereafter be established by local law. SEC. 22. The District Court of the Virgin Islands shall have the jurisdiction of a district court of the United States in all causes arising under the Constitution, treaties and laws of the United States, regardless of the sum or value of the matter in controversy. I t shall have general original jurisdiction in all other causes in the Virgin Islands, exclusive jurisdiction over which is not conferred by this Act upon the inferior courts of the Virgin Islands. When it is in the interest of justice to do so the district court may on motion of any party transfer to the district court any action or proceeding brought in an inferior court and the district court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine such action or proceeding. The district court shall also have appellate jurisdiction to review the judgments and orders of the inferior courts of the Virgin Islands to the extent now or hereafter prescribed by local law. SEC. 23. The inferior courts now or hereafter established by local law shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of all civil actions wherein the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum or value of $500j exclusive of interest and costs, all criminal cases wherein the maximum punishment which may be imposed does not exceed a fine of $100 or imprisonment for six months, or both, and all violations of police and executive regulations, and they shall have original jurisdiction, concurrently with the district court, of all actions, civil or crirTTTTTnl, jurisdiction of which may hereafter be conferred upon them by local law. Any action or proceeding brought in the district court which is within the jurisdiction of an inferior court may be transferred to such inferior court by the district court in the interest of justice. The inferior courts shall hold preliminary investigations in charges of felony and charges of misdemeanor in which the punishment that may be imposed is beyond the jurisdiction granted to the inferior courts by this section, and shall commit offenders to the district court and grant bail in bailable cases. The rules governing the practice and procedure of the inferior courts and prescribing the duties of the judges and officers thereof, oaths and bonds, the times and places of holding court, and the procedure for appeals to the district court shall be as may hereafter be established by the district court. The rules governing disposition of fines, costs and forfeitures, enforcement of judgments, and disposition and treatment of prisoners shall be as established by law or ordinance in force on the date of approval of this Act or as may hereafter be so established. SEC. 24. The President shall, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint a judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands, who shall hold office for the term of eight years and until his successor is chosen and qualified, unless sooner removed by the Presi-

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