Judge Vern Hodge was admitted to practice law at the Bar in Washington D.C. in 1969. A few years later he was appointed Attorney General of the Virgin Islands, and subsequently Chief Judge of the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands from 1976 to 1999. In the summer of 1981 Judge Vern Hodge founded “The Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra” in St Thomas, VI as an experimental approach to use the steelband as a way of preventing children aged ten to eighteen from becoming school dropouts and delinquents.  Instead of youths being sent to prison or fined for delinquent behavior, Judge Hodge, with the consent of their parents, would offer them his Rising Stars Tutorial and Enrichment Program. This program was funded from his court’s budget. The Rising Stars Enrichment Plan included studies comprised of Steelband History and Music, as well as the subjects that led to the successful completion of their High School education. Indeed, the result of this experiment by Judge Verne Hodge has resulted in a ninety (90) percent graduation rate.