Senate passes bill allowing Supreme Court review of Virgin Island cases

The Senate passed two bills Thursday night before adjourning for the weekend, one of which would allow the U.S. Supreme Court to review final judgments of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands.

Del. Donna Christensen (D-V.I.) introduced the bill H.R. 6116, which amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to provide for direct review by the United States Supreme Court of decisions by the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, carrying Constitutional rights to citizens of the Virgin Islands.

The Supreme Court would only be allowed to review cases that are decided after the bill becomes law. The House passed the measure last month, meaning it now head to the president's desk for his signature.

The Senate also passed a bill amending the law on the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) introduced S. 2045, which would require active judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) to live within 50 miles of the District of Columbia, which is where the CAVC’s principal office must be located.

The amendment also allows the president to remove judges violating that residency requirement who were confirmed on or after 2012.

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