American Samoa § 3.0302 - Jurisdiction.

§ 3.0302. Jurisdiction.

(a) The District Court has jurisdiction of the following matters: civil cases or controversies other than actions involving land or matai titles, in which the amount in controversy shall not exceed $15,000; criminal cases in which the offense charged is a misdemeanor or any offense punishable by not more than 1 year of imprisonment; traffic cases except those involving a felony; initial appearances and preliminary examinations in all criminal cases; adoptions; actions arising under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, 42.0404 through 42.0454; actions arising under the Occupational Health and Safety Act; and public health offenses arising under 25.2001 et seq. (b) The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction and does not have jurisdiction over those matters under 3.0208 of which the High Court has original jurisdiction. Amendments: 1979 Subsection (a) added jurisdiction over adoption, actions under Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement Support Act, and actions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 1985 Subsection (a). deleted “$3,000” and added “$5,000”. Reviser’s Comment: The Occupational Health and Safety Act was repealed by PL 16-47. Case Notes: There is no provision of the American Samoa Code which gives any court in the territory, or any division or department of any court, either expressly or by implication, in rem admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, vessel Fijian Swift v. Trial Division, 4 ASR 983 (1975).