Ariel K. Smith is a U.S. Virgin Islands lawyer who served as the 19th attorney general of the United States Virgin Islands from 2023 to 2024.
Ariel Smith | |
|---|---|
| 19th Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands | |
| In office April 14, 2023 – March 15, 2024 | |
| Governor | Albert Bryan |
| Preceded by | Carol Thomas-Jacobs (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ian Clement (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Education | Rutgers University, Newark (JD) |
Early life and education
editSmith 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
editFor 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
editOn 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] Smith resigned on March 15, 2024. [8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Governor Bryan Nominates Ariel Smith for Attorney General". WTJX. March 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
- ^ "Elon Musk subpoenaed by US Virgin Islands in Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit". The Independent. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- ^ "Elon Musk subpoenaed over JPMorgan's role in Jeffrey Epstein's activities". The Guardian. 2023-05-15. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Photo Focus: Ariel M. Smith Sworn-in As USVI Attorney General". The Saint Thomas Source. July 3, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ "Statement from Governor Albert Bryan Jr. On Attorney General Ariel Smith's Resignation". 12 March 2024.