Opinion ID: 744765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Procedure on Remand

Text: 21 As noted above, the record here establishes that M.B. was born on May 12, 1976. Therefore, when this case was argued to this court he was 20, and he is now 21 years old and beyond the age that would allow the Family Court division of the Territorial Court to have any jurisdiction over him. See V.I. Code Ann. Tit. 4, Ch. 11, § 172(a) (When jurisdiction shall have been obtained by the Family Division in the case of any child, such jurisdiction may be retained by the Division until he becomes 19 years of age, unless he is discharged prior thereto by the court). Accordingly, the situation we are confronted with is analogous to that which confronted the Supreme Court in Kent. There, the defendant had passed the age at which the juvenile court could exercise jurisdiction over him when the court vacated the order transferring him to adult court. It was therefore not possible to simply remand to juvenile court for a redetermination of the propriety of the transfer to adult court. However, rather than dismiss the matter and create the possibility that a very serious crime would go unpunished, the Court remanded to the adult court for a de novo hearing on transfer (waiver of juvenile jurisdiction). The Court stated: 22 Ordinarily we would reverse the Court of Appeals and direct the District Court to remand the case to the Juvenile Court for a new determination of waiver. If on remand the decision were against waiver, the indictment in the District Court would be dismissed. However, petitioner has now passed the age of 21 and the Juvenile Court can no longer exercise jurisdiction over him. In view of the unavailability of a redetermination of the waiver question in the Juvenile Court, ... we vacate the order of the Court of Appeals and the judgment of the District Court and remand the case to the District Court for a hearing de novo on waiver, consistent with this opinion. If that court finds that waiver was inappropriate, petitioner's conviction must be vacated. If, however, it finds that the waiver order was proper when originally made, the District Court may proceed, after consideration of such motions as counsel may make and such further proceedings, if any, as may be warranted, to enter an appropriate judgment. 23 Kent, 383 U.S. at 564-65, 86 S.Ct. at 1058-59. Similarly, we shall vacate the order of the district court affirming the order of the Family Division of the Territorial Court transferring jurisdiction of M.B., and remand the matter to the Criminal Division of the Territorial Court for a de novo transfer determination. 7 If that court concludes that transfer is appropriate it may then proceed with the prosecution of M.B. giving full consideration to any motions, and such other proceedings as it may deem appropriate. If the Criminal Division of the Territorial Court concludes that the matter is not appropriate for transfer, it shall enter an order dismissing the charges against M.B.