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The Cattie Law Firm, P.C. U.S. Virgin Islands EST. 2010 Tel.: 340.775.1200 | Fax.: 800.878.5237 www.cattie-law.com David J. Cattie, Esq. david.cattie@cattie-law.com October 29, 2025 Via e-mail only to: mpotter@legvi.org The Hon. Milton E. Potter-Senate President Legislature of the Virgin Islands Capitol Building, Charlotte Amalie P.O. Box 1690 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00804 Re: Melanie Turnbull, Esq. President Potter and members of the Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands: I am writing today to express my unequivocal support for my friend and colleague Melanie Turnbull, Esq. to serve as a judge on the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. I moved to the Virgin Islands more than 20 years ago to serve the People of the Virgin Islands as an attorney. Since moving to St. Thomas, I have served as coach in the Appellate Moot Court Competition for several years on behalf Charlotte Amalie High School. Additionally, I have served on the board for the Office of the Territorial Public Defender, and volunteered for the District Court’s Criminal Justice Act Panel representing indigent defendants. A large portion of my practice is dedicated to serving as defense counsel for persons charged with criminal offenses. In that capacity, I have gotten to know Attorney Turnbull and can attest to her integrity, intelligence, and dedication to the ideal of equal justice for all. Attorney Turnbull is well- respected by prosecutors, defenses attorneys, judges and jurors. Time and time against she has championed the causes of her clients against nearly incomprehensible odds and has come out victorious. Whenever a member of the criminal defense bar obtains a favorable outcome for a defendant at trial, an e-mail is circulated amongst the members of the defense bar to share the news and, more often than not, it is Attorney Turnbull’s name in the subject line being praised for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. As a federal public defender Attorney Turnbull represents many of the poorest of society. Public defenders are often maligned as being somehow less qualified than private counsels. As attorneys, we know this to be false, but the stereotype persists. When a defendant is assigned to Attorney Turnbull, however, that stereotype is quickly dispelled and her client soon learns that he or she hit the proverbial jackpot by having Melanie on his or her side. 1710 Kongens Gade, St. Thomas, V.I. 00802 2 | P a g e As an attorney and citizen of the Virgin Islands, I cannot express how fortunate we are to have someone of Melanie’s caliber nominated for a spot on our Superior Court bench. I beseech this body to act positively on her nomination and to do whatever is necessary to ensure we reap the benefit of having her serve as a jurist on our Superior Court. Thank you for taking the time to review this letter in support of her nomination. Sincerely, DAVID J. CATTIE, ESQ. cc: Sen. Kenneth L Gittens; senatorgittens@legvi.org Sen. Avery L. Lewis; senatoraverylewis@legvi.org Sen. Kurt A Vialet; senatorkurtvialet@legvi.org Sen. Marvin A. Blyden; mblyden@legvi.org Sen. Angel L. Bolques, Jr.; senatorbolques@legvi.org Sen. Dwayne M. DeGraff; ddegraff@legvi.org Sen. Ray Fonseca; rfonseca@legvi.org Sen. Novelle E. Francis, Jr.; nfrancis@legvi.org Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger; senatorfrancisheyliger@legvi.org Sen. Hubert L. Frederick; senatorhubertfrederick@legvi.org Sen. Marise C. James; mcjames@legvi.org Sen. Franklin D. Johnson; senatorjohnson@legvi.org Sen. Carla J. Joseph; senatorjoseph@legvi.org Sen. Clifford A. Joseph; senatorcliffordjoseph@legvi.org David Cattie