Norton Introduces Bill to Require U.S. Attorney, Federal Judges and U.S. Marshals Serving in D.C. to Live in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act, which would require federal district court judges, federal circuit court judges, the U.S. Attorney, the two U.S. Marshals and the federal court clerk who serve in D.C. to reside in D.C., just as such officials are required to do in other jurisdictions.

“As we continue to work for full equality for District residents with statehood, this is an important step to ensure that the District of Columbia is treated like the rest of the country,” Norton said. “These federal officials serve D.C. directly as a hometown, not as a federal jurisdiction. They should be a part of the community they serve and should fully understand the unique issues facing District of Columbia residents, which can only be fully realized by residing in the District of Columbia. Congress, through laws requiring residency in virtually every other jurisdiction, and the courts, through the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, have recognized the importance of federal officials' connections with the communities they serve. The District of Columbia should be treated no differently.”

When Norton exercises senatorial courtesy for the District of Columbia, as she did under Presidents Clinton and Obama and currently does under President Biden, she only recommends nominees who commit to living in D.C. during their tenures.

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Federal Judicial Officials Residency Equality Act

June 27, 2023

Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Federal Judicial Officials Residency Equality Act, which would require the federal district court judges, federal circuit court judges, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshals and federal court clerk appointed to serve D.C. to reside in D.C.  In nearly every other jurisdiction in the United States, such officials are required by federal law to reside in the jurisdiction they have been appointed to serve.  The only exceptions are the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal for the Northern Mariana Islands who at the same time are serving in the same capacity in another jurisdiction, and officials appointed to the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York, which are the only districts in different parts of the same city. 

The requirement that these federal officials reside in the jurisdiction they serve is related to knowledge of the community and to the effect of decisions.  As stated in the official commentary to the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, “a judge should not become isolated from the society in which the judge lives.”  The same holds true for other federal officials.  This bill recognizes that D.C. deserves federal officials with the same understanding and links to the community as Congress has seen fit to require for federal officials in other jurisdictions.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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