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Residents of U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam Contest Unfair Overseas Voting Laws at the Ninth Circuit Court

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Inhabitants of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and additional territories are intensifying their battle against what they perceive as prejudiced federal and state overseas voting statutes. The ongoing Borja v. Nago case, presented to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is a pivotal development in this struggle, seeking to contest these controversial laws.

This week witnessed the plaintiffs imploring the court to oppose the stance of the U.S. Justice Department, which contends that voting does not constitute a “fundamental right” for inhabitants of U.S. territories. According to the Justice Department, residents of these territories can exercise their voting rights for the presidential election through absentee ballots in their last state of residence, provided they live in a foreign country or the Northern Mariana Islands. However, this privilege is not granted to those residing in areas such as Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Moreover, the Justice Department maintains that, should these laws be ruled unconstitutional, the federal government would still be shielded from legal actions. They propose that states, like Hawaii, have the capability to rectify any damages caused by federal discrimination. The department also implies that revoking overseas voting rights in the Northern Mariana Islands might be a more suitable solution than granting equal rights universally.

Neil Weare, the co-director of Right to Democracy, voiced his disillusionment with the Justice Department’s perspective, stating, “The federal government’s ongoing efforts to undermine democracy, self-governance, and political influence in U.S. territories is deeply troubling.” He stressed the indispensability of voting rights, regardless of one’s domicile.

Parker Rider-Longmaid, the legal representative for the Borja plaintiffs, rebuked the Justice Department for defending such a discriminatory federal statute, emphasizing that it is the duty of the federal government to redress the inequalities induced by the law.

In the previous year, a Hawaii district court dismissed a challenge to these laws. Current rules allow residents of states, including Hawaii, who relocate to foreign countries or the Northern Mariana Islands, to retain their presidential voting rights via absentee ballots. Unfortunately, this right is not afforded to those moving to Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or other territories.

The case is currently in the queue for oral arguments in the Ninth Circuit, expected to be scheduled early in the forthcoming year.

In relation to this legal confrontation, Right to Democracy has launched a Territories Art Competition for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17. The competition encourages participants to illustrate their perceptions of democracy through various mediums such as visual arts, prose, or music. Winners from each territory will be recognized and awarded. The deadline for submissions is October 10, 2023.

Neil Weare aspires for the youth in each territory to utilize this opportunity to articulate their democratic viewpoints, despite the Justice Department’s persistent denial of such rights in U.S. territories.

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Plaskett’s Bill to Honor Virgin Islands Hero Passes House

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In a notable legislative milestone, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett successfully led the passage of a bill through the House to rename a post office in St. Croix in honor of a distinguished local military figure.

The bill, designated H.R. 5034, proposes renaming the post office located at 2119 Market Square in Christiansted as the “Lieutenant General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office.”

Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen, a native of St. Croix, is renowned for his extensive military service, business acumen, and community leadership. His illustrious military career includes commanding the First Brigade, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He also served as the commander of the Second U.S. Army at Fort Gillam, Georgia.

Expressing his appreciation for the honor, Lt. General Ebbesen said, “I continue to be humbled by the efforts of Representative Stacey Plaskett and her office to honor my service. Being present to witness us being one step closer to the designation of the Market Square, Christiansted Post Office in my name is truly an honor.”

Ms. Plaskett emphasized the significance of acknowledging Lt. General Ebbesen’s exemplary life and service, stating, “The naming of the Market Square Post Office on St. Croix as the Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office will enshrine his legacy and serve as a testament to the thousands of Virgin Islanders who answer the call to duty in our armed forces. Recognizing Lt. General Ebbesen’s service through this federal building designation is important.”

With its passage in the House, the bill will now move to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it will be sent to President Biden for his signature into law.

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U.S. DOJ Moves to Reschedule Marijuana to Ease Criminal Penalties

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The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Attorney General Merrick Garland has initiated a process to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This proposed rulemaking, submitted to the Federal Register, could significantly change marijuana’s legal status, reduce federal criminal penalties, and acknowledge its accepted medical use in the U.S.

Marijuana has been a Schedule I drug since the CSA was enacted in 1970. On October 6, 2022, President Joe Biden requested a scientific review of marijuana’s classification. Following recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August, Garland sought legal guidance from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Based on HHS’s findings and OLC’s advice, the Attorney General has now begun the rulemaking process to reclassify marijuana.

Rescheduling a controlled substance involves a formal procedure that includes public notice, an opportunity for comment, and an administrative hearing. During this process, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will collect and review public input to make a final determination. Until then, marijuana remains a Schedule I substance.

Historically, marijuana’s classification has faced numerous legal challenges and petitions for rescheduling. Initially classified as Schedule I, marijuana was deemed to have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of safety under medical supervision. Despite various attempts to change this status, the DEA has repeatedly denied such requests, adhering to its five-part test for determining a drug’s “currently accepted medical use” (CAMU).

The recent HHS recommendation was based on a two-part inquiry: assessing whether licensed healthcare providers widely use marijuana for medical purposes and whether there is credible scientific support for at least one medical use. HHS concluded that marijuana meets these criteria, supporting its reclassification to Schedule III.

This potential rescheduling raises several legal and regulatory questions. An April 2024 memorandum from the OLC stated that the DEA’s current approach to determining CAMU is too narrow. The OLC asserted that HHS’s two-part inquiry is sufficient to establish CAMU and emphasized that DEA must give significant weight to HHS’s scientific and medical determinations in the rulemaking process.

Additionally, the memorandum addressed compliance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the CSA. It concluded that neither mandates marijuana’s placement in Schedule I or II, and that DEA can meet international obligations by rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III with appropriate regulatory controls.

The rulemaking process will include public participation, with opportunities for comments and a hearing before a final decision. The outcome could change marijuana’s classification, impacting its legal status and medical use availability in the United States.

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Court Decision Paves Way for Integration of Caneel Bay Resort into National Park

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A pivotal ruling from a U.S. Circuit Court judge has mandated the transfer of ownership of the Caneel Bay Resort’s buildings and infrastructure to the U.S. Department of the Interior. This decision enables the National Parks Service to proceed with the redevelopment of the iconic resort.

The legal tussle over the rightful ownership of the property began in 2022, involving EHI Acquisitions LLC and the United States Government. Originating from a unique ownership arrangement crafted between 1977 and 1983, the Caneel Bay Resort was built on a 150-acre tract that was part of a larger 5,000-acre donation to the National Park Service by philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller. While the land was deeded to the National Parks Service (NPS), the buildings remained under the ownership of Rockefeller’s company via a “retained use estate.” This arrangement included an indenture with a reversion clause, offering the government the option to acquire the resort buildings at no cost—otherwise, the land would revert to the resort’s owner.

The legal dispute intensified when EHI, having acquired the retained use estate, claimed full ownership of both the land and resort buildings after the government declined a 2019 offer to assume ownership. EHI interpreted this “offer” as a sales proposition, whereas the government viewed it as a no-cost conveyance.

Judge Cheryl Ann Krause clarified this discrepancy in court, affirming the documents’ explicit intention for the land and improvements to be gifted to the government for a nominal fee of $1, as stipulated in the 1983 indenture. She stated, “To keep the land, the Government would have to accept the offer of the improvements. But if that offer were conditioned on payment, then the Government’s retention of that land, in effect, would also be conditioned on payments…meaning it would no longer be a gift.”

Judge Krause further underscored the non-commercial nature of the transaction, reflecting on the indenture’s clear direction for the integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the Virgin Islands National Park, aligned with both parties’ philanthropic objectives.

Despite EHI’s arguments that the government intended to spend significantly to re-acquire the resort and their attempt to redefine “offer,” the court found these points unconvincing. Judge Krause dismissed these claims and awarded summary judgment to the United States, confirming that since no valid offer was made by EHI before the expiration of the retained use estate on September 30, 2023, the land’s title remains with the U.S. Government.

This ruling confirms that the government not only retains ownership of the land but also gains title to the resort’s structures, with EHI planning to appeal the decision. This marks a significant step towards the full integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the national park system, reflecting the original intent of its benefactor.

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