Committee backs bill to smooth court operations during judicial vacancies

The Committee on Rules and Judiciary voted to send Bill 36-0101 to the full Legislature after hearing testimony from the judiciary and others about persistent case backlogs tied to judicial vacancies.

Sponsor Novell E. Francis Jr. said the measure responds to long delays caused when judicial terms expire and replacements are not confirmed promptly. Regina DeChabert Peterson, administrator of courts, and Associate Justice Harold Willocks described how vacancies and short statutory holdover limits have forced the courts to redistribute dockets and rely on ad hoc measures.

The bill would strike the 180-day limit on a judge’s post‑term holdover service in specified circumstances and add statutory mechanisms to recall former judges as senior‑sitting judges for renewable terms and to appoint part‑time magistrates to hear limited categories of matters. Justice Willocks told the committee the current certification requirement — that the chief justice verify no conflict exists for every active judge before recalling a senior‑sitting judge — is impractical and slows case handling.

The Attorney General’s Office, the Virgin Islands Bar Association and the territorial public defender’s office testified in support or noted operational impacts. The public defender’s office said additional judicial hours could increase courtroom time and that its office may need more attorneys if judges gain capacity to hear more matters.

In committee roll call the measure passed with five yeas and two absences. Sponsor Francis said the bill aims to give the judiciary additional, temporary tools to ensure continuity of operations and reduce delays while permanent judicial appointments proceed through the nomination and confirmation process.