Norton Thanks Schumer for Setting Up Floor Votes on Local D.C. Court Nominees to Address Vacancy Crisis

Statement

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) thanked Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) for filing cloture today on seven local District of Columbia court nominees, setting up confirmation votes for when the Senate returns from recess. The local D.C. courts are facing an unprecedented vacancy crisis, which is harming public safety and access to justice, because Republicans have prevented the Senate from confirming any local D.C. court nominees this Congress. Historically, local D.C. court nominees generally have been confirmed by voice vote.

"I want to express my thanks to Majority Leader Schumer for recognizing the vacancy crisis on the local D.C. courts and for putting an end to obstruction by Senate Republicans on these D.C. nominees," Norton said. "I also thank Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Gary Peters for moving the nominees through his committee."

Currently, there are 16 vacancies out of 62 authorized judges on D.C.'s trial court, the Superior Court. There are three vacancies out of nine authorized judges on D.C.'s appeals court, the Court of Appeals. Schumer filed cloture on five Superior Court nominees and on two Court of Appeals nominees. Cloture, which can be invoked on nominations by a simple majority vote, ends debate on a bill or nomination, allowing for a vote on the bill or nomination.

Norton has introduced a bill to eliminate the Senate confirmation requirement for local D.C. judges. Her District of Columbia Courts Vacancy Reduction Act would allow judicial appointments to the local D.C. courts to take effect after a 30-day congressional review period, unless a joint resolution disapproving an appointment is enacted into law during that period. The bill would make the congressional review process for appointments the same as the one currently used for legislation passed by the D.C. Council. The bill passed the House Committee on Oversight and Reform last month.

Under the D.C. Home Rule Act, D.C. judges are appointed by the President, subject to Senate confirmation. The president appoints a nominee from one of three candidates submitted by the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission. If the president does not appoint one of the candidates within 60 days, the commission is required to appoint one of the candidates, subject to Senate confirmation.

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