Norton Calls on Senate to Address Judicial Vacancy Crisis in Local D.C. Courts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the Senate returning from recess today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) called on the Senate to confirm the eight pending judicial nominees for the local District of Columbia courts. Currently, there are 14 vacancies out of 62 authorized judges on D.C.’s trial court, the Superior Court, and two vacancies out of nine authorized judges on D.C.’s appeals court, the Court of Appeals.

“The judicial vacancy crisis in the local District of Columbia courts is harming public safety and access to justice in D.C.,” Norton said. “The local D.C. courts regularly face a judicial vacancy crisis, regardless of which party controls the Senate, because both parties prioritize federal judicial and executive branch nominees over local D.C. court nominees, but Republicans have exacerbated the problem this Congress by filibustering nominees to the local D.C. courts. The Senate needs to devote floor time to confirming these nominees.”

Norton’s District of Columbia Courts Vacancy Reduction Act would eliminate the Senate confirmation requirement for local D.C. judges. Instead, the bill 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 used for legislation passed by the D.C. Council. The bill passed the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, on which Norton serves, last year.

Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, local 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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