2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 3 - Executive
Chapter 8 - Department of Justice
§ 114. Powers and duties of Attorney General; budget
(a) The Attorney General shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) except in cases where the United States attorney is representing the Government of the United States Virgin Islands at the request of the Governor, to appear for and represent the executive branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands before the courts in all civil proceedings in which the said Government, or any executive department, board, commission, agency, instrumentality or officer thereof is interested;
(2) to prosecute in the inferior courts all offenses against the laws of the Virgin Islands;
(3) to prosecute in the name of the People of the Virgin Islands, offenses against the laws of the Virgin Islands.
(4) to investigate violations of the laws of the Virgin Islands for which the executive branch of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands may invoke penalties, fines or forfeitures, or deny, suspend or revoke licenses, and to initiate and conduct appropriate proceedings in relation thereto;
(5) to employ such skilled experts, scientists, technicians, or other specially qualified persons as he deems necessary to aid him in the preparation or trial of actions or proceedings;
(6) to appear for and represent the executive branch of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, and all departments, boards, commissions, agencies, instrumentalities or officers thereof, before all administrative tribunals or bodies of any nature, in all legal or quasi-legal matters, hearings or proceedings. All duties and functions with respect to the Government of the Virgin Islands, or any department, board, commission, agency, instrumentality or officer thereof, heretofore assigned to the United States attorney solely by virtue of laws of the Virgin Islands are hereby transferred to the Attorney General;
(7) to furnish legal advice to the Governor and all executive departments, boards, commissions, agencies, instrumentalities and officers of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, concerning any matter arising in connection with the exercise of their official powers and duties, and to supervise and direct the legal business of every executive department, board, commission, agency, instrumentality and officer of the said Government;
(8) upon request of the Governor or the Legislature to render written opinions on any legal questions relating to the exercise of the power or duties of any department, board, commission, agency, instrumentality or officer of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands;
(9) to prepare drafts of regulations, and of contracts and other instruments in which the Government of the United States Virgin Islands is interested;
(10) to keep books in which he shall record all the official opinions given by him during his term of office, and deliver the same to his successor in office;
(11) to perform or discharge all such other duties, responsibilities and functions as may be provided for by law;
(12) to prescribe rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law or other regulations authorized by law, for the proper administration of the Department of Justice, the conduct of its officers and other personnel, the performance of its business, and the custody, use and preservation of the records, papers and property appertaining to it;
(13) to supervise, control and direct the officers and employees of the Office of the Marshal in the performance of their duties;
(14) to perform such other duties pertaining to the legal affairs of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands as may be assigned to him by the Governor;
(15) to render opinions on the legal sufficiency of all contracts and other instruments in which the Government of the United States Virgin Islands is interested and the best interests of the people of the Virgin Islands is served;
(16) [Deleted.]
(17) administer and enforce laws pertaining to ethics and conflict of interest.
(b) The Attorney General shall prepare the budget for the Department, for submission to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(c) Except for the governing board of the Virgin Islands Port Authority, the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands may not serve as a member on any board of an autonomous or semi-autonomous governmental instrumentality or public corporation.
(d) Every complaint clerk and the Attorney General and such Assistant Attorneys General as the Attorney General shall authorize in writing shall be empowered to administer oaths or affirmations in connection with the preparation and filing of criminal complaints.
