IB 

Union Calendar No. 578 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4419 

[Report No. 114–745] 

To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of the District 

of Columbia courts. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 1, 2016 

Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Insert the part printed in italic] 


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A BILL 

To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges 

of the District of Columbia courts. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia 

5 Judicial Financial Transparency Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR 

7 JUDGES OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS. 

8 (a) REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED.—Section 11–1530, 

9 D.C. Official Code, is amended to read as follows: 

10 ‘‘§ 11–1530. Financial statements 

11 ‘‘(a) Pursuant to such rules as the Commission shall 

12 promulgate, each judge of the District of Columbia courts 

13 shall, within one year following the date of enactment of 

14 the District of Columbia Court Reorganization Act of 

15 1970 and at least annually thereafter, file with the Com16 mission a report containing the following information: 

17 ‘‘(1)(A) The source, type and amount of the 

18 judge’s income which exceeds $200 (other than in19 come from the United States government and in20 come referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the period 

21 covered by the report. 

22 ‘‘(B) The source and type of the judge’s 

23 spouse’s income which exceeds $1,000 (other than 

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1 come referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the period 

2 covered by the report. 

3 ‘‘(C) The source and type of income which con4 sists of dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains 

5 received by the judge and the judge’s spouse during 

6 such period which exceeds $200 in amount or value, 

7 and an indication of which of the following cat8 egories the amount or value of such item of income 

9 is within— 

10 ‘‘(i) not more than $1,000, 

11 ‘‘(ii) greater than 1,000 but not more than 

12 $2,500, 

13 ‘‘(iii) greater than $2,500 but not more 

14 than $5,000, 

15 ‘‘(iv) greater than $5,000 but not more 

16 than $15,000, 

17 ‘‘(v) greater than $15,000 but not more 

18 than $50,000, 

19 ‘‘(vi) greater than $50,000 but not more 

20 than $100,000, 

21 ‘‘(vii) greater than $100,000 but not more 

22 than $1,000,000, 

23 ‘‘(viii) greater than $1,000,000 but not 

24 more than $5,000,000, or 

25 ‘‘(ix) greater than $5,000,000. 


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1 ‘‘(2) The name and address of each private 

2 foundation or eleemosynary institution, and of each 

3 business or professional corporation, firm, or enter4 prise in which the judge was an officer, director, 

5 proprietor, or partner during such period. 

6 ‘‘(3) The identity and category of value (as set 

7 forth in subsection (b)) of each liability of $10,000 

8 or more owed by the judge or by the judge and the 

9 judge’s spouse jointly at any time during such pe10 riod. 

11 ‘‘(4) The source and value of all gifts in the ag12 gregate amount or value of $250 or more from any 

13 single source received by the judge during such pe14 riod, except gifts from the judge’s spouse or any of 

15 the judge’s children or parents. 

16 ‘‘(5) The identity of each trust in which the 

17 judge held a beneficial interest having a value of 

18 $10,000 or more at any time during such period, 

19 and in the case of any trust in which the judge held 

20 any beneficial interest during such period, the iden21 tity, if known, of each interest in real or personal 

22 property in which the trust held a beneficial interest 

23 having a value of $10,000 or more at any time dur24 ing such period. If the judge cannot obtain the iden25 tity of the trust interest, the judge shall request the 


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1 trustee to report that information to the Commis2 sion. 

3 ‘‘(6) The identity and category of value (as set 

4 forth in subsection (b)) of each interest in real or 

5 personal property having a value of $10,000 or more 

6 which the judge owned at any time during such pe7 riod. 

8 ‘‘(7) The amount or value and source of each 

9 honorarium of $250 or more received by the judge 

10 and the judge’s spouse during such period. 

11 ‘‘(8) The source and amount of all money, other 

12 than that received from the United States govern13 ment, received in the form of an expense account or 

14 as reimbursement for expenditures from any source 

15 aggregating more than $250 during such period. 

16 ‘‘(9) The source and amount of all waivers or 

17 partial waivers of fees or charges accepted by the 

18 judge on behalf of the judge or the judge’s spouse, 

19 domestic partner, or guest during such period. 

20 ‘‘(b) For purposes of paragraphs (3) and (6) of sub21 section (a), the categories of value set forth in this sub22 section are— 

23 ‘‘(1) not more than $15,000; 

24 ‘‘(2) greater than $15,000 but not more than 

25 $50,000; 


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1 ‘‘(3) greater than $50,000 but not more than 

2 $100,000; 

3 ‘‘(4) greater than $100,000 but not more than 

4 $250,000; 

5 ‘‘(5) greater than $250,000 but not more than 

6 $500,000; 

7 ‘‘(6) greater than $500,000 but not more than 

8 $1,000,000; 

9 ‘‘(7) greater than $1,000,000 but not more 

10 than $5,000,000; 

11 ‘‘(8) greater than $5,000,000 but not more 

12 than $25,000,000; 

13 ‘‘(9) greater than $25,000,000 but not more 

14 than $50,000,000; and 

15 ‘‘(10) greater than $50,000,000. 

16 ‘‘(c)(1) Reports filed pursuant to this section shall, 

17 upon written request, and notice to the reporting judge 

18 for purposes of making an application to the Commission 

19 for a redaction pursuant to paragraph (2), be made avail20 able for public inspection and copying within a reasonable 

21 time after filing and during the period they are kept by 

22 the Commission (in accordance with rules promulgated by 

23 the Commission), and shall be kept by the Commission 

24 for not less than three years. 


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1 ‘‘(2) This section does not require the public avail2 ability of reports filed by a judge if upon application by 

3 the reporting judge, a finding is made by the Commission 

4 that revealing personal and sensitive information could en5 danger that judge or a family member of that judge, ex6 cept that a report may be redacted pursuant to this para7 graph only— 

8 ‘‘(A) to the extent necessary to protect the indi9 vidual who filed the report or a family member of 

10 that individual; and 

11 ‘‘(B) for as long as the danger to such indi12 vidual exists. 

13 ‘‘(d) The intentional failure by a judge of a District 

14 of Columbia court to file a report required by this section, 

15 or the filing of a fraudulent report, shall constitute willful 

16 misconduct in office and shall be grounds for removal from 

17 office under section 11–1526(a)(2).’’. 

18 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

19 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to reports filed 

20 under section 11–1530, D.C. Official Code, that cover pe21 riods beginning during or after 2016. 

22 SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF PROBATE DIVISION TO USE MAG23 ISTRATE JUDGES. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–1732(j)(5), District of 

25 Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Family 


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1 Divisions’’ and inserting ‘‘Probate Divisions, and the Fam2 ily Court,’’. 

3 (b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Sec4 tion 11–1732(j)(4)(A), District of Columbia Official Code, 

5 is amended by striking ‘‘Family Division’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘Family Court’’. 

7 SEC. 4. AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS TO 

8 ACCEPT CERTAIN TYPES OF PAYMENTS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 17 of 

10 title 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by adding 

11 at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘§ 11–1748. Authority of courts to accept certain types 

13 of payments 

14 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘elec15 tronic funds transfer’— 

16 ‘‘(1) means a transfer of funds, other than a 

17 transaction by check, draft, or similar paper instru18 ment, that is initiated through an electronic terminal, 

19 telephone, or computer or magnetic tape for the pur20 pose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a finan21 cial institution to debit or credit an account; and 

22 ‘‘(2) includes point of sale transfers, automated 

23 teller machine transfers, direct deposit or withdrawal 

24 of funds, transfers initiated by telephone, and trans25 fers resulting from debit card transactions. 


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1 ‘‘(b) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS

2 AND ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS.— 

3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The District of Columbia 

4 courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow pay5 ments, restitution, bonds, and other payments to the 

6 courts by credit card or electronic funds transfer. 

7 ‘‘(2) USE OF VENDORS AND THIRD PARTY PRO8 VIDERS.—The Executive officer— 

9 ‘‘(A) may contract with a bank or credit 

10 card vendor, or other third party provider, for 

11 purposes of accepting payments by credit card or 

12 electronic funds transfer; and 

13 ‘‘(B) shall make every effort to find the low14 est cost vendor for purposes of accepting such 

15 payments. 

16 ‘‘(3) RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYING FEES.—Under 

17 any contract entered into under paragraph (2), the 

18 person making the payment shall be responsible for 

19 covering any fee or charge associated or imposed with 

20 respect to the method of payment. 

21 ‘‘(4) COMPLETION OF PAYMENT.—If a person 

22 elects to make a payment to the District of Columbia 

23 courts by a method authorized under paragraph (1), 

24 the payment shall not be deemed to be made until the 

25 courts receive the funds. 


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1 ‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CHECKS.— 

2 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The District of Columbia 

3 courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow pay4 ments, restitution, bonds, and other payments to the 

5 courts by check. 

6 ‘‘(2) USE OF CHECK GUARANTEE VENDOR.—The 

7 Executive Officer— 

8 ‘‘(A) may contract with a check guarantee 

9 vendor for purposes of accepting payments by 

10 check; and 

11 ‘‘(B) shall make every effort to find the low12 est cost vendor for purposes of accepting such 

13 payments. 

14 ‘‘(3) RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYING FEES.—Under 

15 any contract entered into under paragraph (2), the 

16 person making the payment by check shall be respon17 sible for covering any fee or charge associated or im18 posed with respect to the method of payment. 

19 ‘‘(d) LIABILITY FOR NON-PAYMENT.—If a check or 

20 other method of payment, including payment by credit 

21 card, debit card, or charge card, so received is not duly 

22 paid, or is paid and subsequently charged back to the Dis23 trict of Columbia courts, the person by whom such check 

24 or other method of payment has been tendered shall remain 


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1 liable for the payment, to the same extent as if such check 

2 or other method of payment had not been tendered.’’. 

3 (b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The 

4 table of sections for subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 

5 11, District of Columbia Code, is amended by adding at 

6 the end the following: 

‘‘11–1748. Authority of courts to accept certain types of payments.’’. 

7 SEC. 5. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY 

8 PERMITTED FOR CASES UNDER JURISDIC9 TION OF SMALL CLAIMS AND CONCILIATION 

10 BRANCH OF SUPERIOR COURT. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–1321, District of Co12 lumbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$5,000’’ and 

13 inserting ‘‘$10,000’’. 

14 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub15 section (a) shall apply to any case filed in the Superior 

16 Court of the District of Columbia on or after the date of 

17 enactment of this Act. 

18 SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO APPROVE COMPENSATION OF AT19 TORNEYS IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM AMOUNT. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

21 (1) CRIMINAL DEFENSE APPOINTMENTS.—Sec22 tion 11–2604(c), District of Columbia Official Code, 

23 is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting 

24 the following: ‘‘Each chief judge may delegate such 


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1 approval authority to an active or senior judge in the 

2 court in which the chief judge sits.’’. 

3 (2) CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT APPOINT4 MENTS.—Section 16–2326.01(f), District of Columbia 

5 Official Code, is amended— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘(f)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(f)’’; 

7 (B) by striking paragraph (2); and 

8 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘Each chief judge may delegate such approval 

10 authority to an active or senior judge in the 

11 court in which the chief judge sits.’’. 

12 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub13 section (a) shall apply with respect to any case or pro14 ceeding initiated on or after the date of enactment of this 

15 Act. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to update the 

financial disclosure requirements for judges of the District of Columbia courts and to make other improvements 

to the District of Columbia courts.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 578 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4419 

[Report No. 114–745] 

A BILL 

To update the financial disclosure requirements for 

judges of the District of Columbia courts. 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and orVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Sep 13, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H4419.RH H4419

srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS