I 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6747 

To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to modernize the 

rules and procedures for the service of jurors in District of Columbia 

courts, to adjust compensation rates for criminal justice investigators 

and attorneys representing indigent defenders, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 

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

Committee on Oversight and Reform 

A BILL 

To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to 

modernize the rules and procedures for the service of 

jurors in District of Columbia courts, to adjust compensation rates for criminal justice investigators and attorneys representing indigent defenders, and for other 

purposes. 

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 Courts Improvement Act of 2022’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. MODERNIZATION OF RULES AND PROCEDURES RE2 LATING TO SERVICE OF JURORS. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHING FEES FOR JURORS SERVING IN

4 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AT

5 SAME RATES PAID FOR JURORS SERVING IN UNITED

6 STATES DISTRICT COURTS.— 

7 (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF FEES.—Section 11– 

8 1912(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is 

9 amended to read as follows: 

10 ‘‘(a) Grand and petit jurors serving in the Superior 

11 Court shall receive fees and allowances at the same rates 

12 provided under section 1871 of title 28, United States 

13 Code, for fees and allowances paid to grand and petit ju14 rors appearing in the district courts of the United 

15 States.’’. 

16 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

17 by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to fees 

18 and allowances paid on or after the first day of the 

19 first fiscal year which begins after the date of the 

20 enactment of this Act. 

21 (b) MODERNIZING PROCESS FOR SERVING OF QUALI22 FICATION FORMS AND SUMMONSES.— 

23 (1) JUROR QUALIFICATION FORMS.—Section 

24 11–1906(c), District of Columbia Official Code, is 

25 amended— 


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1 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘shall 

2 provide that a juror qualification form be 

3 mailed’’ and inserting ‘‘shall require that a 

4 juror qualification form be provided’’; 

5 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘return’’ 

6 and inserting ‘‘submit’’; and 

7 (C) by adding at the end the following new 

8 paragraph: 

9 ‘‘(3) The jury system plan shall provide that a juror 

10 qualification form be provided by mail to each prospective 

11 juror, except that the plan may permit the form to be pro12 vided by electronic communication to a prospective juror 

13 with the affirmative consent of the prospective juror.’’. 

14 (2) SUMMONSES.—Section 11–1907(a), District 

15 of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking 

16 the last sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘Under 

17 the jury system plan, service of prospective jurors 

18 may be made personally, by mail, or, with the af19 firmative consent of the prospective juror, by elec20 tronic communication.’’ 

21 (c) PERMITTING INDIVIDUALS 70 YEARS OF AGE OR

22 OLDER TO OPT OUT OF SERVICE.—Section 11–1908(b), 

23 District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— 

24 (1) by striking ‘‘or (4)’’ and inserting ‘‘(4)’’; 

25 and 


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1 (2) by striking the period at the end of the first 

2 sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘; or (5) ex3 cluded by the Court upon the request of the indi4 vidual if the individual is 70 years of age or older.’’. 

5 SEC. 3. ADJUSTMENTS IN COMPENSATION RATES FOR CER6 TAIN PERSONNEL. 

7 (a) ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING INDIGENT DEFEND8 ANTS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–2604(a), District 

10 of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking 

11 ‘‘at a fixed rate of $90 per hour’’ and inserting ‘‘an 

12 hourly rate not to exceed the rate payable under sec13 tion 3006A(d)(1) of title 18, United States Code’’. 

14 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 

15 by this subsection shall apply with respect to cases 

16 and proceedings initiated on or after the date of the 

17 enactment of this Act. 

18 (b) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATORS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–2605, District of 

20 Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘a 

21 fixed rate of $25 per hour’’ each place it appears in 

22 subsections (b) and (c) and inserting ‘‘a rate not to 

23 exceed the rate payable for such services in the 

24 United States District Court for the District of Co25 lumbia’’. 


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1 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 

2 by this subsection shall apply with respect to inves3 tigative services provided in connection with cases 

4 and proceedings initiated on or after the date of the 

5 enactment of this Act. 

6 SEC. 4. AUTHORITY OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF COURTS 

7 OVER REGISTER OF WILLS. 

8 (a) APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–1725(b), District 

10 of Columbia Official Code, is amended— 

11 (A) by inserting ‘‘the Register of Wills,’’ 

12 after ‘‘the clerks of the courts,’’; and 

13 (B) by striking ‘‘(other than the Register 

14 of Wills and personal law clerks and secretaries 

15 of the judges)’’ and inserting ‘‘(other than per16 sonal law clerks and judicial administrative as17 sistants of the judges)’’. 

18 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 11– 

19 2102(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is 

20 amended by striking ‘‘The Superior Court shall ap21 point and remove’’ and inserting ‘‘Pursuant to sec22 tion 11–1725(b), the Executive Officer of the Dis23 trict of Columbia Courts shall appoint and may re24 move’’. 


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1 (b) DETERMINATION OF COMPENSATION.—Section 

2 11–2102(c), District of Columbia Official Code, is amend3 ed to read as follows: 

4 ‘‘(c) The compensation of the Register of Wills shall 

5 be fixed in accordance with section 11–1726(a).’’. 

6 (c) ASSIGNMENT OF DUTIES.—Section 11–2103, 

7 District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking 

8 ‘‘the chief judge of the Superior Court’’ and inserting ‘‘the 

9 Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Courts’’. 

10 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF RETROACTIVE PAY ADJUST11 MENTS FOR COURT EMPLOYEES. 

12 Section 11–1726, District of Columbia Official Code, 

13 is amended by adding at the end the following new sub14 section: 

15 ‘‘(d) Retroactive pay may be payable to an employee 

16 of the District of Columbia courts by reason of an increase 

17 in the salary or pay schedule applicable to the employee 

18 pursuant to this section which occurs during fiscal year 

19 2022 or any succeeding fiscal year, but only if— 

20 ‘‘(1) the employee is in the service of the Dis21 trict of Columbia courts on the date of final action 

22 by the Executive Officer regarding the increase; or 

23 ‘‘(2) the employee retired or died during the pe24 riod beginning on the effective date of the increase 

25 and ending on the date of final action by the ExecuVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:04 Feb 23, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6747.IH H6747

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1 tive Officer regarding the increase, except that retro2 active pay for such an employee shall be provided 

3 only with respect to services performed during that 

4 period.’’. 

5 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF COURTS TO CARRY OUT CER6 TAIN ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS. 

7 (a) RETENTION OF FEES RECEIVED FOR ADMIN8 ISTERING BAR EXAMINATIONS AND PROCESSING BAR AD9 MISSIONS.—Section 11–2501(a), District of Columbia Of10 ficial Code, is amended— 

11 (1) by striking ‘‘(a) The District’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘(a)(1) The District’’; and 

13 (2) by adding at the end the following new 

14 paragraph: 

15 ‘‘(2) Notwithstanding the third sentence of section 

16 450 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1– 

17 204.50, D.C. Official Code), the District of Columbia 

18 Court of Appeals may retain any amounts received as fees 

19 for administering bar examinations and processing Dis20 trict of Columbia Bar admissions and use such amounts 

21 for the salaries and expenses incurred in administering bar 

22 examinations and processing bar admissions. Any amounts 

23 retained under this paragraph shall remain available until 

24 expended.’’. 

25 (b) SPECIFIC AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT GIFTS.— 


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1 (1) AUTHORITY DESCRIBED.—Section 11–1742, 

2 District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by 

3 adding at the end the following new subsection: 

4 ‘‘(e)(1) The Executive Officer may solicit, accept, and 

5 use money, funds, property, and voluntary and uncompen6 sated services of any kind made available by gift, donation, 

7 devise, bequest, grant, or otherwise to carry out the au8 thorized functions or duties of the District of Columbia 

9 Courts. 

10 ‘‘(2) The District of Columbia Courts shall keep accu11 rate and detailed records of the acceptance and use of any 

12 gift, donation, devise, bequest, grant, or other money, 

13 funds, property, or services accepted under paragraph (1), 

14 and shall make such records available for audit.’’. 

15 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO

16 EXISTING AUTHORITY.—Section 115 of the District 

17 of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 

18 108–7; 117 Stat. 124) is amended— 

19 (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and the 

20 District of Columbia courts’’; and 

21 (B) in subsection (c), by striking the pe22 riod at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘, 

23 but does not include the District of Columbia 

24 courts’’. 


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1 (c) CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROCURE

2 MOTOR VEHICLES.—Section 11–1742(b), District of Co3 lumbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘necessary 

4 equipment,’’ and inserting ‘‘necessary equipment (includ5 ing motor vehicles),’’. 

6 (d) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO ALLOT OR PERMIT

7 USE OF AVAILABLE SPACE IN COURT BUILDINGS.—Sec8 tion 11–1742, District of Columbia Official Code, as 

9 amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding 

10 at the end the following new subsection: 

11 ‘‘(f)(1) In addition to any authority provided under 

12 any other law, regulation, or guidance, the District of Co13 lumbia Courts may enter into an agreement to allot or 

14 permit the use by District of Columbia or Federal agen15 cies, legal services providers, or any other individual or 

16 entity of space in a building owned by or assigned or 

17 leased to the District of Columbia Courts if— 

18 ‘‘(A) the District of Columbia or Federal agen19 cy, legal services provider, or other individual or en20 tity applies to the Executive Officer for the use of 

21 such space; 

22 ‘‘(B) the space is available; 

23 ‘‘(C) the Executive Officer determines that the 

24 allotment or use of the space is in the interest of the 

25 District of Columbia Courts; and 


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1 ‘‘(D) the agreement for the allotment or use of 

2 the space provides that the allotment or use of the 

3 space may be revoked at any time. 

4 ‘‘(2) Under an agreement for the allotment or use 

5 of space which is entered into under the authority of this 

6 subsection, the space may be provided without charge for 

7 rent or services. For purposes of this paragraph, the term 

8 ‘services’ includes the providing of lighting, heating, cool9 ing, electricity, office furniture, office machines and equip10 ment, classroom furnishings and equipment, kitchen appli11 ances, telephone service (including installation of lines and 

12 equipment and other expenses associated with telephone 

13 services), and security systems (including installation and 

14 other expenses associated with security systems), includ15 ing replacement equipment, as needed. 

16 ‘‘(3) Nothing in title 31, United States Code, or any 

17 other law may be construed to prohibit or restrict a party 

18 to an agreement entered into under the authority of this 

19 subsection from paying the costs associated with the allot20 ment or use of space under the agreement by reimburse21 ment to the Treasury of the United States or the Crime 

22 Victims Fund.’’. 

23 SEC. 7. UPDATES TO TREATMENT OF SMALL CLAIMS. 

24 (a) AUTHORITY OF COURTS TO DETERMINE HOURS

25 FOR TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS.— 


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1 (1) REPEAL OF MANDATORY SESSIONS

2 HOURS.—Title 11, District of Columbia Official 

3 Code, is amended by striking section 11–1302. 

4 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec5 tions at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 13 

6 of title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, is 

7 amended by striking the item relating to section 11– 

8 1302. 

9 (b) INCREASE IN LIMIT ON AMOUNT OF CLAIM

10 UNDER JURISDICTION OF BRANCH.— 

11 (1) INCREASE.—Section 11–1321, District of 

12 Columbia Official Code, is amended— 

13 (A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The 

14 Small Claims’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) The Small 

15 Claims’’; 

16 (B) in the first sentence, by striking 

17 ‘‘$10,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,000 (or, in the 

18 case of an action brought during any 5-year pe19 riod described in subsection (b), the applicable 

20 limit under such subsection)’’; 

21 (C) in the second sentence, by striking 

22 ‘‘Branch’’ and inserting ‘‘Small Claims 

23 Branch’’; 


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1 (D) in the third sentence, by striking 

2 ‘‘Branch’’ and inserting ‘‘Small Claims 

3 Branch’’; 

4 (E) in the third sentence, by striking 

5 ‘‘Civil Division’’ and inserting ‘‘Civil Actions 

6 Branch’’; and 

7 (F) by adding at the end the following new 

8 subsections: 

9 ‘‘(b) The applicable limit under this subsection is the 

10 following: 

11 ‘‘(1) In the case of an action brought during 

12 the 5-year period which begins on the first day of 

13 the first calendar year beginning after the date of 

14 the enactment of the District of Columbia Courts 

15 Improvement Act of 2022, $12,000. 

16 ‘‘(2) In the case of an action brought during 

17 any succeeding 5-year period, the applicable limit 

18 under this subsection for the preceding 5-year pe19 riod, increased by the percentage increase, if any, in 

20 the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, 

21 published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 

22 Department of Labor, over such preceding 5-year 

23 period, except that if such increased limit is not a 

24 multiple of $100, such limit shall be rounded to the 

25 nearest multiple of $100.’’. 


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1 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

2 by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to claims 

3 brought on or after the date of the enactment of this 

4 Act. 

5 (c) PERMITTING USE OF MEDIATION TO SETTLE

6 CASES.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–1322, District of 

8 Columbia Official Code, is amended to read as fol9 lows: 

10 ‘‘§ 11–1322. Arbitration, mediation, and conciliation 

11 ‘‘In order to affect the speedy settlement of con12 troversies, and with the consent of the parties, the Small 

13 Claims Branch may settle cases, irrespective of the 

14 amount involved, by the methods of arbitration, mediation, 

15 or conciliation. A judge sitting in the Small Claims Branch 

16 may act as a referee, arbitrator, or mediator, either alone 

17 or in conjunction with other persons, as provided by rules 

18 of the court. A judge, officer, or employee of the Superior 

19 Court may not accept any fee or compensation in addition 

20 to that person’s salary for services performed pursuant to 

21 this section.’’. 

22 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec23 tions at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 13 

24 of title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, is 


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1 amended by amending the item relating to section 

2 11–1322 to read as follows: 

‘‘11–1322. Arbitration, mediation, and conciliation.’’. 

3 (d) REVISION TO REFERENCES TO SMALL CLAIMS

4 AND CONCILIATION BRANCH.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 11, Dis6 trict of Columbia Official Code, as amended by this 

7 section, is amended by striking ‘‘and Conciliation’’ 

8 each place if appears in the following sections; 

9 (A) Section 11–1301. 

10 (B) Section 11–1321. 

11 (C) Section 11–1322. 

12 (D) Section 11–1323. 

13 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of 

14 chapters of title 11, District of Columbia Official 

15 Code, is amended by amending the item relating to 

16 chapter 13 to read as follows: 

‘‘CHAPTER 13. SMALL CLAIMS BRANCH OF THE SUPERIOR COURT.’’. 

17 SEC. 8. REVISIONS TO CERTAIN REFERENCES. 

18 (a) REFERENCES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVI19 SION.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The District of Columbia 

21 Official Code is amended by striking ‘‘Domestic Vio22 lence Unit’’ each place it appears in the following 

23 sections and inserting ‘‘Domestic Violence Division’’: 

24 (A) Section 11–902(d). 


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1 (B) Section 11–1101(b)(2). 

2 (C) Section 11–1732. 

3 (2) SPECIAL RULES FOR MAGISTRATE

4 JUDGES.—Section 11–1732A, District of Columbia 

5 Official Code, is amended— 

6 (A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Domes7 tic Violence Unit’’ and inserting ‘‘Domes8 tic Violence Division’’; and 

9 (B) by striking ‘‘Domestic Violence Unit’’ 

10 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Domestic 

11 Violence Division’’. 

12 (3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec13 tions at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 17 

14 of title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, is 

15 amended by amending the item relating to section 

16 11–1732A to read as follows: 

‘‘11–1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of the Family Court of the Superior Court and the Domestic Violence Division.’’. 

17 (b) REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLEC18 TUAL DISABILITIES.—(1) Section 11–501(2)(D), District 

19 of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘sub20 stantially retarded persons’’ and inserting ‘‘persons with 

21 moderate intellectual disabilities’’. 

22 (2) Section 11–921(a)(4)(D), District of Columbia 

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1 tarded persons’’ and inserting ‘‘persons with moderate in2 tellectual disabilities’’. 

3 (3) Section 11–1101(a)(15), District of Columbia Of4 ficial Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the at least mod5 erately mentally retarded’’ and inserting ‘‘persons with 

6 moderate intellectual disabilities’’. 

Æ 


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