Willocks elected to lead Virgin Islands Supreme Court

Harold W.L. Willocks has been chosen to serve as the next chief justice of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, the Judicial Branch announced following a Tuesday vote. His five-year term will begin on December 13, 2026, making him only the second person to lead the territory's highest court.

Willocks will replace Rhys S. Hodge, who has held the position for two decades. The transition comes as three founding justices step down: Hodge himself, along with Maria M. Cabret and Ive Arlington Swan, all departing at year's end.

The selection took place at 1 p.m. on October 13 in a meeting that included Hodge, Cabret, Willocks and Associate Justice Denise M. Francois. The Virgin Islands Code mandates that a majority of sitting full-time justices elect a chief justice from their ranks at least 60 days before the current leader's term concludes.

Willocks expressed gratitude for the backing of his colleagues, saying he was "honored by the vote of confidence of my esteemed and distinguished colleagues to assume the mantle of leadership of the Judiciary of the Virgin Islands." He noted that Francois and he would "continue the good work of the Judicial Branch" and work to "advance the rule of law and improve the operations of the local judiciary."

The newly elected chief justice arrived at the Supreme Court in May 2024 after Governor Albert Bryan Jr. nominated him in January and the 35th Legislature unanimously confirmed him in March. Before that appointment, Willocks spent 14 years on the Superior Court in various roles including administrative judge, presiding judge and senior sitting judge. He previously worked 22 years in the Office of the Territorial Public Defender, serving as chief public defender for 18 of those years.