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Norton Bill to Strengthen Local Justice Process in D.C. Passes House

July 14, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's (D-DC) bill, H.R. 4185, to give the District of Columbia Courts, Public Defender Service (PDS) and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) authority that will modernize their operations passed in the House today by voice vote. The Norton bill gives the three agencies authority other federal agencies already have. Among other technical changes, the bill would allow the courts to collect debts owed by its employees to the courts; would allow PDS to accept and use public grants, voluntary and uncompensated services, such as unpaid law clerks and interns, and private contributions made to advance PDS's work; and would authorize CSOSA to receive and use gifts for the purpose of advancing its work. Norton thanked Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) for their assistance.

"This bill will help make our local justice process more efficient and, therefore, more effective for the residents of the District," Norton said.