Ariel M.Smith
19th Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands
Assumed office
April 14, 2023
Acting: April 14, 2023 – June 30, 2023
GovernorAlbert Bryan
Preceded byCarol Thomas-Jacobs (acting)
Personal details
BornSaint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
EducationRutgers University, Newark (JD)

Ariel M. Smith is a U.S. Virgin Islands lawyer serving as the 19th attorney general of the United States Virgin Islands since 2023.

Early life and education

Smith was born on Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.[1] She graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School.[1] She completed a J.D. from Rutgers Law School.[2]

Career

For over ten years, Smith worked in private practice as an associate attorney with Smock and Moorhead on Saint Thomas.[2][1] From 2006 to 2011, Smith was an assistant territorial public defender.[2][1] In this role, she worked in the criminal defense of misdemeanors and felony offenses such as domestic violence and white collar crimes.[2]

In 2011, Smith joined the civil division of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice as an assistant attorney general, serving role for seven years.[2] In 2016, she was promoted to chief of the civil division where she oversaw five attorneys and two support staff.[2]

Attorney General of the Virgin Islands

On March 20, 2023, governor Albert Bryan nominated Smith to succeed Carol Thomas-Jacobs as the attorney general of the United States Virgin Islands.[2][3]

In May 2023, Elon Musk was subpoenaed by the US Virgin Islands in part of a larger lawsuit against JP Morgan's alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operations.[4][5] The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Manhattan by former US Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George, in 2022.[6]

On June 30, 2023, Smith was sworn in as attorney general on a permanent basis during a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Carlson, Suzanne (2023-05-15). "AG nominee says more staffing, resources needed". The Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Bryan Taps Ariel M. Smith as Nominee for Attorney General". St. Thomas Source. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  3. ^ "Governor Bryan Nominates Ariel Smith for Attorney General". WTJX. March 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  4. ^ "Elon Musk subpoenaed by US Virgin Islands in Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit". The Independent. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  5. ^ "Elon Musk subpoenaed over JPMorgan's role in Jeffrey Epstein's activities". The Guardian. 2023-05-15. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  6. ^ Flitter, Emily (2022-12-28). "U.S. Virgin Islands Sues JPMorgan Over Epstein Sex-Trafficking Scheme". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  7. ^ "Photo Focus: Ariel M. Smith Sworn-in As USVI Attorney General". The Saint Thomas Source. July 3, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
Legal offices Preceded byCarol Thomas-JacobsActing Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands 2023–present Incumbent
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