2010 Annual Report - Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands

Superior Court of the Virgin Islands
Message from the Presiding Judge
Greetings! The start of Fiscal Year 2010 began with the Superior Court having two judicial vacancies; one in each District. During the second
quarter, those vacancies were filled by the confirmation of the Honorable Adam G. Christian and the Honorable Harold W.L. Willocks in the St.
Thomas/St. John District and the St. Croix District, respectively. We extend our sincerest gratitude to Senior Sitting Judge Edgar D. Ross for his
assistance to the Court during the time of those vacancies and thereafter. Judge Ross’ invaluable services assisted the Court in maintaining its
continuity over pending cases.
When the Territorial Court (now known as the Superior Court) was initially established, Title 4, Section 71 of the Virgin Islands Code,
authorized the appointment of not less than six (6) judges, one half of whom were required to reside in each District and two of whom were
required to serve as Family Court judges, one in each District. Thereafter, the number of judges increased to four (4) in each District. However,
since the mid-1990’s, there have been five (5) judges within the District of St. Thomas/St. John while the number of judges in the St. Croix
District has remained at four (4), with one of these judges serving as the Family Court judge. The number of judges in the St. Croix District
must be increased at some point in the near future to address the number of cases filed (which are on par with the number of cases filed in the
St. Thomas/St. John District) even though we are cognizant of the fact that, due to the Government’s current financial condition, and the lack of
adequate facilities, the appointment of an additional judge for the St. Croix District is unlikely at this time.
After more than a year-long search, the Superior Court has entered into a contract to implement a new, state-of-the-art case management
system. This $1.6 million contract will bring the Court into the 21st Century with a fully automated case processing system and e-filing capabilities
similar to the system used in the District Court of the Virgin Islands and other jurisdictions throughout the continental United States.
Automated case processing would end the Court’s reliance on its existing archaic system and implement a system that: improves the
timeliness of case processing, while reducing the potential for human error. Additionally, there will be a reduction in the duplicitous inputting
of information. Moreover, upon full implementation, attorneys and other court users will be able to file pleadings and documents electronically
and review the Court’s case records from their offices or other off-site location via the worldwide web. Over time, the Court’s goals are to have a
virtually paperless process and provide for the quick resolution of claims.
The contract, with American Cadastre, LLC (“AmCad”), of Herndon, Virginia, calls for full implementation over an 18-month period which
began in December of 2010.
The new system is part of our ongoing efforts to reduce case delays, improve access to justice for our citizens, and improve our records
management, thereby improving our delivery of service to court users. The Court remains cognizant of its continuing objective in the expeditious
resolution of cases that come before it and recognizes that justice delayed is justice denied. Accordingly, we have taken the first major steps
toward addressing this serious issue by joining other contemporary courts in adopting a technology solution that would improve case processing
and improve accountability.
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