Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 95.djvu/141

 PUBLIC LAW 97-21—JULY 9, 1981

95 STAT. 115

such decisions by the United States Supreme Court. Decisions of the appellate court on questions arising under the United States Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States may be appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, unless otherwise provided by the Congress of the United States. JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE

3. There shall be a Judicial Nominating Committee established by law whose members shall be nominated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, All judges shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, but no person shall be appointed as a judge who has not been nominated by the Judicial Nominating Committee. SECTION

48 USC 1541 note.

JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT AND DISABILITY

4. There shall be a judicial commission established by law with the power to discipline, censure, suspend, remove for misconduct, or retire for disability any judge of any court established by law. Any decision of the judicial commission shall be appealable in a manner as provided by law. The position of any judge suffering permanent disability shall be filled in accordance with law. SECTION

48 USC 1541 note.

TERM

5. The regular term of a judge of any court of the Virgin Islands shall be eight years. SECTION

48 USC 1541 note.

QUALIFICATIONS

6. A judge shall— (a) be a citizen of the United States and the Virgin Islands; (b) be a domiciliary of the Virgin Islands for not less than five years immediately preceding his appointment; (c) have been licensed to practice law in the Virgin Islands for not less than four years immediately preceding his appointment; and (d) for appointment to the appellate court of the Virgin Islands, have practiced law for not less than ten years, and for appointment to any lower court, have practiced law for not less than five years.

SECTION

48 USC 1541 note.

COMPENSATION

7. The salary and allowances of a judge shall be provided by law, and may not be decreased during his tenure. SECTION

48 USC 1541 note.

RESTRICTION ON ACTIVITIES

8. No person who holds a judicial office in the Virgin Islands shall hold any other paid office, engage in the practice of law, or in the pursuit of business. Any judge who files or announces his candidacy for elective office shall thereby forfeit his judicial office. SECTION

48 USC 1541 note.

RULEMAKING POWER

9. The appellate court shall adopt rules with respect to judicial matters, including temporary disability, civil and criminal SECTION

48 USC 1541 note.

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