The court community of the Virgin Islands formally welcomed a new Superior Court judge for the St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island district. An investiture ceremony took place Tuesday morning, honoring Carol Thomas-Jacobs.
Thomas-Jacobs took her oath of office and accepted her black robe and gavel. Her investiture ceremony was the first of two scheduled for this week; St. Croix Judge Yvette Brow-Ross is expected to take her oath on Friday.
The formalities took place in a setting packed with current and former judges, marshalls, clerks, family members, and leaders from other branches of government. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and Senate President Novelle Francis Jr. joined Chief Supreme Court Justice Rhys Hodge on the bench in the main courtroom at the Farrelly Justice Complex.
Hodge administered the oath while the judge’s daughter, Cajay Jacobs, held the Bible for her mother’s hand to rest. Terrence Jacobs — the judge’s husband — helped her robe.
Presiding Superior Court Judge Debra Watlington offered her congratulations. Watlington called Thomas-Jacobs a “humble, hard-working high achiever who is committed to service.”
Thomas-Jacobs began her legal career in the Virgin Islands 22 years ago and started working for the Department of Justice in 2008. She rose through the ranks from assistant to deputy attorney general. She briefly served as attorney general from January until her nomination to the bench was approved by the Legislature in April.
Along the way, the new judge also taught law-related classes at the University of the Virgin Islands and served as a public school volunteer. Virgin Islands Bar Association representative Adrienne Dudley urged those attending the ceremony to follow Thomas-Jacob’s example.
Finally, it was time for words from the guest of honor. “I am filled with so much gratitude today,” she said, “Many individuals have laid the foundation, paved the way and contributed to this journey.”
Watlington and others who spoke noted the number of female judges currently serving in the court. The final speaker, former Presiding Judge Harold Willocks, closed out the ceremony by offering his thoughts.
“Whether it’s more brothers, more sisters, we are all one. Thanks, everybody, for coming,” Willocks said.
