48 USC § 1616 - Trial by jury

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t48/s1616"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "48 USC § 1616 - Trial by jury"
title_number: 48
title_name: "TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS"
section_number: "1616"
section_name: "Trial by jury"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "VIRGIN ISLANDS [1954]"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "JUDICIAL BRANCH"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 26, 68 Stat. 507; Pub. L. 85–851, § 8, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 1095.)"
---


# § 1616. Trial by jury

All criminal cases originating in the district court shall be tried by jury upon demand by the defendant or by the Government. If no jury is demanded the case shall be tried by the judge of the district court without a jury, except that the judge may, on his own motion, order a jury for the trial of any criminal action. The legislature may provide for trial in misdemeanor cases by a jury of six qualified persons.

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**Source Credit**: (July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 26, 68 Stat. 507; Pub. L. 85–851, § 8, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 1095.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1958— substituted requirement of jury trial upon demand by defendant or Government for prohibition against denial to any person on demand of either party.