Bryan Nominates Turnbull as Superior Court Judge

M.A. Dworkin

St. Thomas - Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced the nomination of St. Thomas Attorney Melanie L. Turnbull to serve as Judge of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Family Division, St. Thomas-St. John District, at the weekly Press Briefing at Government House St. Thomas. 

“Attorney Turnbull’s record reflects strong trial experience, careful preparation and a commitment to equal justice under law,” the Governor stated. “This nomination is based on qualifications, character and service to the people of the Virgin Islands.”

Ms. Turnbull has served as Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of the Virgin Islands since 2018. She has represented indigent clients at arraignments, bail proceedings, pretrial hearings, jury trials, sentencings and post-conviction matters. Her representative cases include fraud, bank robbery, identity theft, firearm offenses, narcotics conspiracies, immigration offenses and contested sentences seeking below-guidelines outcomes. 

Earlier in her career, Ms. Turnbull clerked at the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands for Justice Ive A. Swan, drafting pre-argument memoranda, researching Virgin Islands jurisprudence, and assisting with editing and evaluating written opinions. 

Her community service spans membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, service on the Office of the Territorial Public Defender Board and the Faith Alive Academy School Board; and as former head coach of the Virgin Islands Bar Association’s annual moot court program. 

The nomination has been transmitted to the 36th Legislature for advice and consent consistent with Title 4, Chapter 5, Section 72, of the Virgin Islands Code.

Meeting with JetBlue CEO 

In other Press Briefing news, Governor Bryan talked about his recent trip to the mainland where he met with JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty in New York and conducted conversations about increasing airlift to the Territory, particularly getting a direct flight from the New York-New Jersey area. 

Technology that helps Eliminate Green Waste

The Governor stopped in Palm City, Florida, where he was introduced to air curtain incinerator technology, a fast, clean, sustainable way to handle green waste and protect our environment. He was impressed that the relatively inexpensive technology could be extremely helpful in eliminating green waste in the Territory, especially proving useful in the STT-STJ Districts. Governor Bryan stated they were looking to buy two units, one for St. Thomas, one for St. Croix.

VI-PR Friendship Day 

The Governor hailed the 51st celebration of Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day. 

“In that spirit we mark the 51st celebration,” the Governor remarked. “Under the theme, binding our ties through friendship and culture… a reminder that our islands are stitched together by family names and nicknames, shared kitchens and carnival rhythms, stories passed down from elders to children and songs everyone seems to know.” 

VI-PR Friendship Day is a public holiday celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands on the second Monday in October. It was established in 1964 by Governor Paiewonsky and honors Puerto Ricans who reside in or who have made substantial contributions to the Virgin Islands. The date was chosen to coincide with Columbus Day, as an appropriate day for commemorating the solidarity of Americans in the Caribbean.

EO on Gender Marker Change

The Governor also spoke about his controversial signing of Executive Order (EO)  No. 543-2025, establishing a formal process by which individuals in the Virgin Islands may request a change to the gender marker on their official government issued identification documents. 

The EO directs executive branch agencies - including the Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles - to amend gender designations on official documents upon request, ensuring that Virgin Islanders can obtain identification that accurately reflects their identity. 

“You can be born a male, but identify as a female,” the Governor said. “And we need to make a space for that legally.”

Fed Shut down: Food Stamp Cutoff 

In his concluding remarks, Governor Bryan spoke about the current Federal Government shutdown.

“It is tenuous,” he stated. “The longer it goes on the more problems it creates…We just received notice that Food Stamps will be impacted for November unless there is some solution.”

The Governor instructed residents who are presently on the Food Stamp (SNAP) program to watch their spending and prepare for the possibility that their allotment could be cut back or completely eliminated.