Norton Introduces Bill to Give D.C. Control Over Operations of Local D.C. Courts

WASHINGTON, D.C.–– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced her District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act today, which would give the D.C. Council authority over the jurisdiction and organization of the local D.C. courts. The D.C. Home Rule Act expressly prohibits D.C. from enacting any law with respect to any provision of the D.C. Code that relates to the jurisdiction and organization of the local D.C. courts. Congress can give D.C. this authority even before the District becomes the 51st state.

"The District has never had authority over its local courts, even before 1997 when it was responsible for paying for the courts’ operations," Norton said. "As the duly elected and accountable local legislature for the District, it is irresponsible for the D.C. Council to be left on the sidelines while Congress, which could not care less about the local D.C. courts, remains in charge of improving their operations. My bill would correct this wrong and increase democratic autonomy and self-government for the District."

Under the Home Rule Act, the D.C. Council has no authority to "enact any act, resolution, or rule with respect to any provision of title 11 of the District of Columbia Code (relating to organization and jurisdiction of the District of Columbia courts)."

In 1997, under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act, the federal government assumed the costs for several state-level functions from D.C., including the local D.C. courts. This bill would not affect the authority of the President to nominate, or the Senate to confirm, local D.C. judges, which has been within their purview since the creation of the District's modern local court system in 1970.

Norton's introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act

July 21, 2025

Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act.  This bill would give the Council of the District of Columbia authority over the jurisdiction and organization of the local D.C. courts.  The D.C. Home Rule Act (HRA) prohibits the Council from enacting any law with respect to title 11 of the D.C. Code, which relates to the jurisdiction and organization of the local D.C. courts. 

More than 50 years after passage of the HRA and notwithstanding the importance of the local D.C. courts to D.C., the Council, which is the legislative body accountable to D.C. residents, is left on the sidelines while Congress, which could not care less about the local D.C. courts, remains the only legislative body that can amend title 11 of the D.C. Code.

Under the HRA, the Council has no authority to “enact any act, resolution, or rule with respect to any provision of title 11 of the District of Columbia Code (relating to organization and jurisdiction of the District of Columbia courts).”  Title 11 of the D.C. Code primarily relates to the rules of criminal and civil procedure, court administration, the branches of the courts, jury service and admission to the bar. 

D.C. has never had authority over its local courts, even when it was responsible for paying for them.  Under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, the federal government assumed from D.C. the costs for several state-level functions, including the courts.  This bill would not change the federal government’s responsibility for funding the local D.C. courts or the authority of the President to nominate, and the Senate to confirm, local D.C. judges.

This bill is an important step to increase self-government for D.C.  I urge my colleagues to support it.

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