Plaskett's Pick For U.S. Attorney in USVI Nominated by Biden, Expected to Replace Shappert

Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett's pick for U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands, St. John native Delia Smith has been nominated by President Joe Biden, the delegate's office has announced. Ms. Smith is expected to replace current U.S. Attorney for the USVI Gretchen Shappert, who was appointed in January 2018.

Delegate Plaskett has called for the removal of Ms. Shappert, contending that the position should be filled by a local representative. A local nominee is "of critical importance to the Virgin Islands community," she said. Ms. Smith has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for several years.

"Her journey to this moment truly shows her tremendous strength and integrity that will serve our country and the people of the Virgin Islands well," Ms. Plaskett stated. "Ms. Smith attended the University of the Virgin Islands while working and taking care of a young child as a single mother. She then went on to graduate from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and upon graduation from law school, clerked for Judge Ishmael Myers in the Virgin Islands. Interestingly, Ms. Smith worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Virgin Islands as a secretary while she was an undergraduate student at UVI."

Ms. Plaskett thanked Mr. Biden and said the nomination keeps the president's promise that his administration "will look like America and recognizing that our diversity is our strength."