(a) Scope of Admission. The bar of the Court shall consist of those persons heretofore
admitted to practice in the Court and those who may hereafter be admitted in accordance
with these rules. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), the following category of persons
shall not be admitted: any attorney who has been suspended or disbarred, or who has resigned or
withdrawn from the practice of law and has not been reinstated as a member of the bar of this Court.
(b) Requirements.
(1) Regular. Any attorney who is a member in good standing of the Virgin Islands Bar
may by verified application and on motion of a member of the bar of the Court and
upon taking the prescribed oath be admitted as a member of the bar of the Court.
(2) Appearance Pro Hac Vice; Local Counsel. Any attorney who is a member in good
standing of the bar of any United States court or the highest court of a state, the
District of Columbia or a commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United
States may in the discretion of the Court, on motion, and upon taking the prescribed
oath, be permitted to appear and participate in a particular case. If it has not been
done prior to the granting of such motion, an appearance as counsel of record shall
be filed promptly by a member of the bar of the Court (Local Counsel) upon whom
all notices, orders and pleadings may be served. An attorney admitted pro hac vice
to the bar of the Court may file papers, enter appearances for parties, sign
stipulations, or sign and receive payments on judgments, decrees, or orders.
Documents filed by an attorney admitted pro hac vice shall also include the
signature of Local Counsel. Filings by attorneys admitted pro hac vice are deemed
to include a representation that the filer shared the document with and received
approval for filing from Local Counsel. An attorney may be admitted pro hac vice
in no more than a total of three (3) cases in any calendar year and may not be further
Case: 3:25-mc-00003-RAM-GAT Document #: 10-1 Filed: 01/30/26 Page 36 of 44
admitted at any time if such attorney is then admitted pro hac vice in three (3) active
cases regardless of when such admissions occurred. Admission pro hac vice is not
a substitute for admission to the bar of the Court, but rather is intended to facilitate
occasional appearances only. Notwithstanding a lawyer’s pro hac vice status, such
an attorney is within the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Court.
(c) Special Admission.
(1) An attorney may seek special admission to the bar of the Court, if, upon verified
application, the Court determines that the applicant meets the qualifications of a
regular admission except for having passed the Virgin Islands Bar examination; and
(i) the applicant is admitted to practice in the highest court of a state, the District of
Columbia or a commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States;
(ii) the applicant is otherwise professionally, morally, and ethically qualified for
admission to the bar of the Court;
(iii) there is good cause for the admission of such person and the applicant’s
admission would be in the best interest of the Court; and
(iv) the applicant is either: an attorney representing the Government of the Virgin
Islands, its branches, departments, agencies, and instrumentalities; an attorney
representing a public interest group; or, an attorney representing a party on a pro
bono basis.
(2) In every case, the burden shall be upon the person seeking admission pursuant to this
Rule to establish to the satisfaction of the Court his or her qualifications for
admission. An application must be supported by the applicant’s declaration
demonstrating his or her qualifications for admission. Additionally, the applicant
must provide the Court current certificates of good standing bearing the original seal
of the highest court from each jurisdiction to which he or she is admitted. A
certificate of good standing from a bar association in and of itself is not sufficient
for a Special Admission. An applicant for special admission must satisfy the same
fitness requirements as any other applicant seeking permanent regular active
admission to the bar of the Court. Good cause may be satisfied by demonstrating
that pro hac vice admission has been exhausted or is inadequate. The Court may
require the submission of such other information as might be deemed necessary to
satisfy itself as to the attorney’s fitness to practice specially before the Court.
(3) An admission issued pursuant to this Rule shall commence upon taking the
prescribed oath, shall state its special nature, and shall terminate automatically when
the person fails to remain in good standing in each jurisdiction of admission. Special
admission also may be terminated if the good cause upon which special admission
was predicated no longer exists. While admitted under this Rule, a person shall be
treated as a regular member of the bar of the Court with all responsibilities and
privileges thereof.
(4) The special admission provided by this Rule shall expire after three (3) years, unless,
for good cause shown, the Court extends that period.
Case: 3:25-mc-00003-RAM-GAT Document #: 10-1 Filed: 01/30/26 Page 37 of 44
(d) Adherence to Schedules; Sanctions. All members of the bar of the Court and those
specially permitted to participate in a particular action shall strictly observe the dates fixed for
scheduling conferences, motions, pretrial conferences, trials, or any other proceedings. Failure
of counsel for any party, or of a party appearing pro se, to comply with this Rule may result in
the imposition of sanctions, including the withdrawal of the permission granted under subsection
(b)(2) of this Rule to participate in the particular action. All motions for continuance shall be
made promptly.
(e) Appearance by Patent Attorneys. Any attorney who is a member in good standing of
the bar of any United States court or the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia or a
commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States may be qualified for admission to
the bar of this District, subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth, on motion of a member of
the Court and upon taking the prescribed oath, provided such applicant has filed with the Clerk
of Court a verified application for admission as an attorney of the Court establishing that the
applicant:
(1) is a member in good standing of the bar of any United States court or admitted
to practice in the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia or a
commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States for at least five (5)
years;
(2) has been admitted to practice as an attorney before the United States Patent Office
and is listed on its Register of attorneys;
(3) has been continuously engaged in the practice of patent law as a principal occupation
in an established place of business and office located in the Territory of the Virgin
Islands for at least two (2) years prior to date of application; and
(4) has sufficient qualifications both as to pre-legal and legal training to satisfy the
Court. No member admitted under this subdivision shall designate himself or herself
other than as a patent attorney or patent lawyer, and that person’s admission to
practice before the Court shall be limited to cases solely arising under patent laws of
the United States or elsewhere. Failure to continue to maintain an established place
of business or office within the Territory for the practice of patent law shall, upon
proof thereof to the Court and after notice and an opportunity to be heard, justify the
striking of such attorney’s name from the roll of patent attorneys established under
this Rule. In any litigation, any patent attorney admitted under this subdivision shall
be associated of record with a member of the bar of the Court admitted under
subsection (b)(1) of this Rule. Nothing herein contained shall preclude any patent
attorney from being admitted under subsections (b)(1) to (3) of this Rule.
(f) Appearance by Attorneys for the United States. Any attorney who is a member in
good standing of the bar of any United States court or the highest court of a state, the District of
Columbia or a commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States may, upon taking
the prescribed oath, practice before the Court in any proceeding in which he or she is
representing the United States or any of its officers or agencies. If such attorney does not have
an office in this district, he or she shall designate the United States Attorney to receive service
of all notices or papers in that action. Service upon the United States Attorney or authorized
designee shall constitute service upon a government attorney who does not have an office in this
district.
Case: 3:25-mc-00003-RAM-GAT Document #: 10-1 Filed: 01/30/26 Page 38 of 44
(g) Appearance by Attorneys for the Government of the Virgin Islands. A member in
good standing of the bar of any United States court or the highest court of a state, the District of
Columbia or a commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States may in the discretion
of the Court and on motion by the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands or authorized designee,
and upon taking the prescribed oath, be permitted to appear and participate in any proceeding in
which he or she is representing the Government of the Virgin Islands or any of its officers or
agencies.
(h) Appearance by Professional Law Corporations. The provisions of this Rule shall
extend to duly created professional law corporations, authorized to be formed under the law of
the jurisdiction to which the attorney employed by the corporation shall have been admitted to
practice, to the same extent as they apply to partnerships and other unincorporated law firms. In
every case in which such a professional law corporation participates, all appearances and papers
shall be in the full name of the corporation, including such designations as “Chartered”,
“Professional Association,” “P.C.,” and the like, and shall be executed on its behalf by an
individual attorney qualified under this Rule and employed by it as “Authorized Attorney.” Both
the corporate entity and its attorney employee shall be subject to all provisions of these Rules.
(i) Appearance by Supervised Law Students. With the Court’s approval, an eligible law
student may appear under supervision of an attorney on behalf of any client, including the United
States, who has consented in writing.
(1) The attorney who supervises a student shall:
(i) be a member of the bar of the Court who maintains a bona fide office in this
district;
(ii) personally assume professional responsibility for the student’s work;
(iii) assist the student to the extent necessary;
(iv) appear with the student in all proceedings before the Court; and
(v) file a written agreement to supervise the student.
(2) In order to appear, the student shall:
(i) be enrolled in a law school approved by the American Bar Association;
(ii) have successfully completed legal studies amounting to at least two-thirds of the
credits needed for graduation or the equivalent;
(iii) be certified by either the dean or a faculty member of that law school as qualified
to provide the legal representation permitted by these Rules (This certification
may be withdrawn by the person so certifying at any time by mailing a notice to
the Clerk of the Court, or upon termination by the Judge presiding in the case in
which the student appears without notice or hearing and without a showing of
cause. The loss of certification by action of a judge shall not be considered a
reflection on the character or ability of the student.);
(iv) be introduced to the Court by an attorney admitted to practice in this District;
(v) neither ask for nor receive from the client represented any compensation or
remuneration of any kind for services rendered; but this limitation shall not
Case: 3:25-mc-00003-RAM-GAT Document #: 10-1 Filed: 01/30/26 Page 39 of 44
prevent an attorney, legal aid bureau, law school, public defender agency, a
state, Territory, or the United States from paying compensation to the eligible
law student, nor shall it prevent any agency from making proper charges for its
services;
(vi) certify in writing that he or she is familiar and will comply with the
Disciplinary Rules;
(vii) certify in writing that he or she is familiar with the federal procedural and
evidentiary rules relevant to the action in which he or she is appearing.
(3) The law student, supervised in accordance with these Rules, may:
(i) appear as counsel in court or at other proceedings when the written consent of
the client (or of the United States Attorney when the client is the United States)
and the written agreement of the supervising attorney have been filed, and when
the Court has approved the student’s request to appear in the particular case to
the extent that the Judge presiding at the hearing or trial permits;
(ii) prepare and sign motions, petitions, answers, briefs, and other documents in
connection with any matter in which the student has met the conditions of (B)
above; each such document shall also be signed by the supervising attorney.
(4) Forms for designating compliance with this Rule are available in the Clerk’s Office.
Completed forms shall be filed with the Clerk.
(5) Participation by students under this Rule shall not be deemed a violation in
connection with the rules of admission to the bar of any jurisdiction concerning
practice of law prior to admission to that bar.
(j) Appearance by Attorneys in Criminal Cases. The Court may suspend aspects of this
Rule with respect to the appearance of attorneys in criminal cases.
(k) Procedure.
(1) Original Applications. Each applicant for admission or attorney seeking leave to
appear and participate in any proceeding shall file an application on a form
prescribed by the Court. The application shall be made available by the Clerk upon
request. An application by an applicant for admission to the bar shall also be
accompanied by a motion filed by the applicant’s sponsor, who shall be a member
of the bar of the Court. The sponsor shall set forth sufficient grounds in the motion
for admission to satisfy the Court that the sponsor has reason to know the applicant
is qualified for admission. Each applicant for admission shall also pay an admission
fee. The current admission fee schedule approved by the Court is posted at
http://www.vid.uscourts.gov.
(2) Renewal Applications. Each member of the bar of the Court shall submit an
application to renew his or her membership no later than February 4 of each calendar
year, unless otherwise directed by the Court. The application shall be on a form
prescribed by the Court. Notice shall be sent by the Clerk to each member of the
bar of the Court at least thirty days prior to the date on which the application is
due. An application for renewal shall also include the payment of the renewal fee
set by the Court in its admission fee schedule. A timely renewal application shall be
Case: 3:25-mc-00003-RAM-GAT Document #: 10-1 Filed: 01/30/26 Page 40 of 44
granted if the applicant meets all of the qualifications for admission to the bar of
the Court and if he or she pays the renewal fee. Failure to submit a timely renewal
application or to pay the renewal fee will cause the attorney’s membership in the
bar of the Court to be changed to inactive status.
(3) Admission Fund. The Clerk shall collect the admission fees outlined herein and
maintain them in the manner set forth by the Court in the Plan for Administration
and Operation of the Attorney’s Admission Fee Account. Such funds are to be used
for projects that the Court determines are for the benefit of the bench and bar in the
administration of justice.
