District of Columbia Courts Improvement Act of 2020

To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to expand the authorities of magistrate judges of the District of Columbia courts, to modernize the rules and procedures for the service of jurors in District of Columbia courts, to authorize the establishment of a program of voluntary separation incentive payments for nonjudicial employees of the District of Columbia courts and employees of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the District of Columbia Courts Improvement Act of 2020 2. Expansion of authority of magistrate judges of Superior Court to perform certain judicial functions (a) Expanded authorities described Section 11–1732(j), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following: (5) Issue arrest and search warrants pursuant to subchapters II and IV of chapter 5 (6) In the case of proceedings which are initiated prior to the expiration of the 5-year period which begins on the date of the enactment of the District of Columbia Courts Improvement Act of 2020, conduct hearings, make findings, and enter interim and final orders or judgments in uncontested or contested proceedings in the Probate and Civil Divisions of the Superior Court, excluding the following proceedings: (A) Trials. (B) Contested motions to dismiss, for judgment on the pleadings, and for summary judgment. (7) Enter an order punishing an individual for contempt, except that no individual may be detained pursuant to the authority of this paragraph for longer than 180 days, and such an order shall not be subject to the limitations and exclusions applicable to orders under paragraph (6). (8) In addition to the functions described in the preceding paragraphs, with the consent of the parties involved, conduct hearings, make findings, and enter interim and final orders or judgments in all other uncontested or contested proceedings in the Civil, Criminal, and Probate Divisions and the Family Court of the Superior Court, excluding jury trials in the Criminal Division and trials of felony cases in the Criminal Division. . (b) Conforming amendment relating to review of orders and judgments Section 11–1732(k), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking With respect to proceedings in the case of magistrate judges With respect to hearings and proceedings under paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), and (8) of subsection (j) (or proceedings and hearings under section 11–1732A(d), in the case of magistrate judges (c) Technical amendment Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section 11–1732(j), District of Columbia Official Code, are each amended by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period. (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, except that paragraph (5) of section 11–1732(j), District of Columbia Official Code (as amended by subsection (a)), shall take effect on the effective date of a law enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act by the government of the District of Columbia which amends section 23–501(1), District of Columbia Official Code, and section 14 of the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act (52 Stat. 792; sec. 48–921.02, D.C. Official Code) to take such paragraph (as amended by subsection (a)) into account. 3. Modernization of rules and procedures relating to service of jurors (a) Establishing fees for jurors serving in Superior Court of the District of Columbia at same rates paid for jurors serving in United States district courts (1) Establishment of fees Section 11–1912(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Grand and petit jurors serving in the Superior Court shall receive fees and expenses at rates equivalent to the rates provided under section 1871 of title 28, United States Code, for fees and allowances paid to grand and petit jurors appearing in the district courts of the United States. . (2) Conforming amendment Section 15–718, District of Columbia Official Code, is repealed. (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to fees and expenses paid on or after the first day of the first fiscal year which begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Modernizing process for serving of summonses (1) Juror qualification forms Section 11–1906(c), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking shall provide that a juror qualification form be mailed shall require that a juror qualification form be provided (B) in paragraph (2), by striking return submit (2) Use of electronic communication Section 11–1907(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting the following: Under the jury system plan, service of prospective jurors may be made personally, by mail, or, with the consent of the prospective juror, by electronic communication. (c) Permitting individuals 70 years of age or older To opt out of service Section 11–1908(b), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (1) by striking or (4) (4) (2) by striking the period at the end of the first sentence and inserting the following: ; or (5) excluded by the Court upon the request of the individual if the individual is 70 years of age or older. 4. Authorization for program of voluntary separation incentive payments (a) Program for District of Columbia courts (1) In general Chapter 17 11–1726A. Voluntary separation incentive payments The Joint Committee on Judicial Administration may, by regulation, establish a program substantially similar to the program established under subchapter II of chapter 35 . (2) Clerical amendment The table of contents of chapter 17 11–1726A. Voluntary separation incentive payments. . (b) Program for District of Columbia Public Defender Service Section 305 of the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970 (sec. 2–1605, D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) The Director may establish a program substantially similar to the program established under subchapter II of chapter 35 . (c) No effect on previous payments Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section may be construed to affect any voluntary separation incentive payment made prior to the date of the enactment of this Act under a program established by the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration in the District of Columbia or the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. 5. Adjustments in compensation rates for certain personnel (a) Attorneys representing indigent defendants (1) In general Section 11–2604(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking at a fixed rate of $90 per hour an hourly rate not to exceed the rate payable under section 3006A(d)(1) of title 18, United States Code (2) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to cases and proceedings initiated on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Criminal justice investigators (1) In general Section 11–2605, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking (or, in the case of investigative services, a fixed rate of $25 per hour) (2) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to investigative services provided in connection with cases and proceedings initiated on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 6. Authority of Executive Officer of Courts over Register of Wills (a) Appointment and removal (1) In general Section 11–1725(b), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (A) by inserting the Register of Wills, the clerks of the courts, (B) by striking (other than the Register of Wills and personal law clerks and secretaries of the judges) (other than personal law clerks and judicial administrative assistants of the judges) (2) Conforming amendment Section 11–2102(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking The Superior Court shall appoint and remove Pursuant to section 11–1725(b), the Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Courts shall appoint and may remove (b) Determination of compensation Section 11–2102(c), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) The compensation of the Register of Wills shall be fixed in accordance with section 11–1726(a). . (c) Assignment of duties Section 11–2103, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking the chief judge of the Superior Court the Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Courts 7. Authorization of retroactive pay adjustments for court employees Section 11–1726, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) Retroactive pay may be payable to an employee of the District of Columbia courts by reason of an increase in the salary or pay schedule applicable to the employee pursuant to this section which occurs during fiscal year 2020 or any succeeding fiscal year, but only if— (1) the employee is in the service of the District of Columbia courts on the date of final action by the Executive Officer regarding the increase; or (2) the employee retired or died during the period beginning on the effective date of the increase and ending on the date of final action by the Executive Officer regarding the increase, except that retroactive pay for such an employee shall be provided only with respect to services performed during that period. . 8. Revising certain references (a) References to Domestic Violence Division (1) In general The District of Columbia Official Code is amended by striking Domestic Violence Unit Domestic Violence Division (A) Section 11–902(d). (B) Section 11–1101(b)(2). (C) Section 11–1732. (D) Section 16–1001(5). (E) Section 16–1003(a). (F) Section 16–1004(a). (2) Special rules for magistrate judges Section 11–1732A, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended— (A) in the heading, by striking Domestic Violence Unit Domestic Violence Division (B) by striking Domestic Violence Unit Domestic Violence Division (3) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 17 11–1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of the Family Court of the Superior Court and the Domestic Violence Division. . (b) References to individuals with intellectual disabilities (1) Section 11–501(2)(D), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking substantially retarded persons persons with moderate intellectual disabilities (2) Section 11–921(a)(4)(D), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking substantially retarded persons persons with moderate intellectual disabilities (3) Section 11–1101(a)(15), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking the at least moderately mentally retarded persons with moderate intellectual disabilities

Summary: District of Columbia Courts Improvement Act of 2020 This bill revises provisions related to jurors, magistrates, and other judicial officers, and otherwise makes changes to provisions related to the District of Columbia courts. The bill expands authority for magistrate judges of the District's courts to perform certain judicial functions, including to issue arrest and search warrants, and punish an individual for contempt. The bill (1) provides that grand and petit jurors serving in the Superior Court of the District must receive fees and expenses equivalent to those provided to jurors serving in the U.S. district courts, (2) allows service of prospective jurors to be made by electronic communication, and (3) permits individuals 70 years of age or older to opt-out of jury service. The Joint Committee on Judicial Administration in the District and the District's Public Defender Service may each establish a voluntary separation incentive payments program for its employees substantially similar to that for certain federal employees and members of the uniformed services, except that the maximum payment amount to any individual may not exceed $25,000. The bill removes provisions for fixed hourly rates for legal representation of indigent defendants and criminal investigative and expert services for such defendants. The bill revises appointment and removal authority for the Executive Officer of the District's courts to include the Register of Wills. The District's courts may give retroactive pay increases to employees on board at the time an increase is ordered, and to those that have retired (not resigned) or died between the date the increase becomes effective and the date it is ordered.