68 S T A T. ]
PUBLIC LAW 517-JULY 22, 1954
Public Law 517
497 CHAPTER 558
AN ACT To revise the Organic Act of the Virgin Islands of the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands". SEC. 2. (a) The provisions of this Act, and the name "Virgin Islands" as used in this Act, shall apply to and include the territorial domain islands, cays, and waters acquired by the United States through cession of the Danish West Indian Islands by the convention between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Denmark entered into August 4, 1916, and ratified by the Senate on September 7, 1916 (39 Stat, 1706), The Virgin Islands as above described are hereby declared an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. (b) The government of the Virgin Islands shall have the powers set forth in this Act and shall have the right to sue by such name and in cases arising out of contract, to be sued: Provided, That no tort action shall be brought against the government of the Virgin Islands or against any officer or employee thereof in his official capacity without the consent of the legislature constituted by this Act, The capital and seat of government of the Virgin Islands shall be located at the city of Charlotte Amalie, in the island of Saint Thomas. BILL OF RIGHTS
SEC. 3. No law shall be enacted in the A'^irgin Islands which shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law or deny to any person therein equal protection of the laws. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to be represented by counsel for his defense, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to have a copy thereof, to have a speedy and public trial, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law, and no person for the same offense shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any criminal cause to give evidence against himself; nor shall any person sit as judge or magistrate in any case in which he has been engaged as attorney or prosecutor. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties in the case of criminal offenses, except for first-degree murder or any capital offense when the proof is evident or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be enacted. No person shall be imprisoned or shall suffer forced labor for debt. All persons shall have the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and the same shall not be suspended except as herein expressly provided. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted. Private property shall not be taken for public use except upon payment of just compensation ascertained in the manner provided by law. The right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.
39777 0 ~ 5 5 ~ i) t. 1-
July 22, 1954 [S.3378]
R e v i s e d Organic: Act of the Virgin Islands* Applicability.
Government. P o w e r to sue, etc.
Capital.
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