Territorial Court of Virgin Islands v. Richards

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

The Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands seeks to prevent an audit of its operations by the Inspector General of the United States Department of the Interior. It cites the separation of powers doctrine as a constitutional limitation on any such intrusion into its affairs. It claims as well an absence of statutory authority allowing such an audit. We find no constitutional impairment, and that there is ample statutory permission to enforce the Inspector General’s subpoena directed to the Territorial Court.

I. FACTS

Neal H. Littlefield, the Caribbean regional audit manager…