DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 
DIVISIONS OF ST. CROIX and ST. THOMAS/ST. JOHN 
 
IN RE: 
 
                                       ) 
DISTRICT COURT OPERATIONS     
   ) 
UNDER THE EXIGENT                                ) 
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY            ) 
General Order 
HURRICANE IRMA AND   
 
   ) 
HURRICANE MARIA 
                           )       Miscellaneous No.  ____ 
________________________________ 
 
ORDER CONCERNING DISTRICT COURT OPERATIONS IN LIGHT OF 
HURRICANE IRMA AND HURRICANE MARIA 
 
UPON CONSIDERATION of category five Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which wrought 
extensive damage and destruction on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; 
disrupted services and communications throughout the islands; resulted in the closure of the federal 
courthouses on St. Thomas and St. Croix and numerous attorneys' offices on the islands; and 
resulted in the temporary closure and evacuation of all prisoners from the MDC Guaynabo facility 
in Puerto Rico--where approximately 96% of District of the Virgin Islands inmates were confined-
-to facilities on the United States mainland; it is hereby  
ORDERED that all civil and criminal matters scheduled before any judge or magistrate 
judge in either Division of the District Court of the Virgin Islands from September 5th through 
October 29th, 2017, including any deadlines associated therewith, are CONTINUED pending 
further Order of the Court; and it is further 
ORDERED that, with regard to the criminal matters, due to the widespread disruption 
caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the time period of the continuances implemented by this 
General Order will be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act, as the Court specifically finds that the 
ends of justice served by ordering the continuances outweigh the best interests of the public and 
any defendant’s right to a speedy trial, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A); and it is further  
ORDERED that exceptions to the continuances provided herein may be ordered in 
individual cases, in the discretion of the Court after consultation with counsel, if the exigencies of 
a particular matter so require; and it is further 
ORDERED that General Order, Misc. No. 2017-20, entered on September 25, 2017, is 
VACATED; and it is further 
ORDERED that, while the District Court of the Virgin Islands remains closed in both 
Divisions pending further notice, Court personnel are available by telephone from 10:30 am to 
2:30 pm from Monday to Friday, by calling (571) 293-7033, to address matters arising in either 
Division; and it is further  
ORDERED that CM/ECF is available for the filing of documents; and it is further 
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ORDERED that this Order is effective September 5, 2017, nunc pro tunc. 
SO ORDERED. 
 
 
Date:  October 2, 2017 
 
 
 
 
_______/s/_______ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WILMA A. LEWIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Judge 
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