Discipline Procedures

As part of its responsibility to supervise lawyers and in the interest of promoting public confidence in the legal system, the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands has procedures for addressing complaints concerning alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.   

  

Ethics Grievance Committee 

Rule 207 governs the Ethics and Grievances Committee of the Virgin Islands Bar Association.  There is a subcommittee for each judicial district, which is headed by a Chairperson for each subcommittee.  The members of the Ethics and Grievance Committee are appointed by the Supreme Court and are charged with processing and investigating all charges of professional misconduct brought to its attention in writing. The Committee may also initiate an investigation on its own.  The Committee is also responsible for hearing and disposing of complaints filed against attorneys who are members of the Virgin Islands Bar.    

  

Confidentiality of proceedings 

In accordance with Rule 207.1.1(b), unless otherwise stated in the Court's Rules, all grievances, and all proceedings relating to all grievances, including all hearings conducted by the Committee, shall be confidential, and shall not be open to the public, the press or any third party, without the consent of the Respondent or Grievant.

Please note:  The procedures for investigating and evaluating ethical complaints and disciplining attorneys are not a substitute for appeal.  

On this page you can find links to the following information:  

  

• The Rules governing the Ethics and Grievance Committee of the Bar Association.

  

• A complaint form.  In filing a complaint, please identify the nature of the legal matter the lawyer was handling (dissolution of marriage, criminal, personal injury, etc.).  If the matter involved a court case, please mention the case name and number.  You may attach copies of pleadings, correspondence, or other documents that help to explain the complaint.

  

• The completed complaint must be forwarded to the Virgin Islands Bar Association for processing. 

  

You are encouraged to contact the Virgin Islands Bar Association, at (340) 778-7497, if you would like to file a complaint against a member of the Virgin Islands Bar.