Evan Rikhye
Evan Rikhye is a federal prosecutor.[1]
On February 12, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Rikhye to the United States District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands.[1] As of February 12, 2026, Rikhye was awaiting an official nomination from the president and a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for more information on Rikhye's federal judicial nomination.
The U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands is one of three U.S. territorial courts. They are the general federal trial courts in the United States territories. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court of the Virgin Islands
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On February 12, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Rikhye to the District Court of the Virgin Islands.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Evan Rikhye |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands |
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Nomination
As of February 12, 2026, Rikhye was awaiting an official nomination from the president and a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee hearing.
About the court
| District of the Virgin Islands |
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| Third Circuit |
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| Judgeships |
| Posts: 2 |
| Judges: 1 |
| Vacancies: 1 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Robert Molloy |
| Active judges: George W. Cannon, Wilma A. Lewis, Ruth Miller, Robert Molloy |
The District Court of the Virgin Islands is a federal court that has jurisdiction over the territory of the Virgin Islands of the United States. It was established by the Organic Act of 1936. Appeals of the court's decisions are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
The court has the same jurisdiction as the United States district courts, including diversity jurisdiction and bankruptcy jurisdiction. The court is not an Article III court, however, but was created in accordance with the power granted under Article IV of the United States Constitution.[2]
The judge of the District Court of the Virgin Islands is an Article IV federal judge who is appointed to a 10-year term. Judges of this court are appointed by the president and subject to Senate confirmation. Judges may serve more than one term, subject to the standard nominating process.
The District Court of the Virgin Islands has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law as well as bankruptcy cases.
The jurisdiction of the District Court of the Virgin Islands includes the Virgin Islands of the United States. There are two courthouses for the Virgin Islands; one located in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and one in Christiansted, St. Croix. Decisions of the court are appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals at the James A. Byrne Federal Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3]
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- District Court of the Virgin Islands
- United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
Footnotes
