With Large Number of Local D.C. Judicial Vacancies, Norton Renews Call to Pass Her Vacancy Reduction Act
Statement
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today renewed her call for Congress to pass her District of Columbia Courts Vacancy Reduction Act, which would allow judicial appointments to the local District of Columbia 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. By the end of March, there will be at least 13 judicial vacancies on the local D.C. courts, despite the Senate recently confirming seven local D.C. court nominees.
"I am pleased the Senate recently confirmed seven local D.C. judges," Norton said. "However, the deficiencies of the current appointment process, which requires D.C. to wait for Senate approval to staff its own local courts, have long been apparent and are contributing to a decline in public safety. My bill to eliminate the requirement for local D.C. judges to be confirmed by the Senate passed in a House committee in December, and justice requires it to be passed by Congress and signed into law as soon as possible."
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.
There are two local D.C. courts. The Superior Court is the trial court. The Court of Appeals is the appellate court. The Superior Court has 62 authorized judges. The Court of Appeals has nine authorized judges. Currently, the Superior Court has 11 vacancies, and the Court of Appeals has 1 vacancy.
On December 2, 2021, the Committee on Oversight and Reform passed Norton's bill. The bill would make the congressional review process for appointments to the local D.C. courts the same as the one currently used for legislation passed by the D.C. Council.
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