The Virgin Islands Commission on Judicial Conduct ("CJC") was created by Virgin Islands Supreme Court Rule to conduct investigations and hearings with respect to complaints of ethical misconduct by Virgin Islands judges. The Commission is composed of:
· Three (3) judges, including one magistrate of Superior Court
· Three (3) lawyers, each of whom must be an active member of the Virgin Islands Bar.
· Three (3) private citizens, neither of whom shall be members of the V.I. Bar or a judge.
All members serve four (4) year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualified.
The CJC is the agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct against the judicial officers of the Virgin Islands courts and for recommending, when necessary, discipline of judges to the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands. All fifty states and the District of Columbia have judicial conduct agencies to investigate allegations of judicial misconduct and disability that prevent judges from properly performing their judicial duties.
The Commission does not serve as an appellate court to review judges' rulings. It cannot review, reverse or vacate a judge's decision. Nor does it have the authority to order a judge to step down from hearing a case or to provide a complainant with a different judge.
The Commission has the responsibility of preserving both judicial independence and public accountability. By providing a fair and reasonable process to address judicial misconduct and disability, the Commission serves to maintain the public's confidence in the integrity of the judicial system.
All procedures relating to the filing of a complaint, its investigation and resolution can be found in Supreme Court Rule 209, and in the Commission Internal Operating Rules which may be found on this website. If you have any questions about the Commission, we suggest that you review the various links on this website, which includes the Code of Judicial Conduct, the set of rules that governs the conduct of judges. If you wish to file a complaint, you may download a complaint form, fill it out, and send it back to us.
Thank you for your interest in the Commission on Judicial Conduct.