I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7941 
To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to expand the authori-
ties 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 separa-
tion incentive payments for nonjudicial employees of the District of 
Columbia courts and employees of the District of Columbia Public De-
fender Service, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 4, 2020 
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 
expand the authorities of magistrate judges of the Dis-
trict of Columbia courts, to modernize the rules and 
procedures for the service of jurors in District of Colum-
bia courts, to authorize the establishment of a program 
of voluntary separation incentive payments for non-
judicial employees of the District of Columbia courts 
and employees of the District of Columbia Public De-
fender Service, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia 
Courts Improvement Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 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 amend-
ed by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(5) Issue arrest and search warrants pursuant 
to subchapters II and IV of chapter 5 of title 23, 
District of Columbia Official Code, and search war-
rants pursuant to section 14 of the Uniform Nar-
cotic Drug Act (52 Stat. 792; sec. 48–921.02, D.C. 
Official Code). 
‘‘(6) In the case of proceedings which are initi-
ated 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 in-
terim and final orders or judgments in uncontested 
or contested proceedings in the Probate and Civil 
Divisions of the Superior Court, excluding the fol-
lowing proceedings: 
‘‘(A) Trials. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(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 applica-
ble 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 Fam-
ily 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 RE-
VIEW
OF
ORDERS
AND
JUDGMENTS.—Section 11– 
1732(k), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘With respect to proceedings’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘in the case of magistrate judges’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘With respect to hearings and pro-
ceedings under paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), and (8) 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
of subsection (j) (or proceedings and hearings under sec-
tion 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 ac-
count. 
SEC. 3. MODERNIZATION OF RULES AND PROCEDURES RE-
LATING 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.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:11 Aug 25, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(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 SUM-
MONSES.— 
(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’’ and inserting ‘‘shall require that a 
juror qualification form be provided’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘return’’ 
and inserting ‘‘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 person-
ally, 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)’’ and inserting ‘‘(4)’’; 
and 
(2) by striking the period at the end of the first 
sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘; or (5) ex-
cluded by the Court upon the request of the indi-
vidual if the individual is 70 years of age or older.’’. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR PROGRAM OF VOLUNTARY 
SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. 
(a) 
PROGRAM
FOR
DISTRICT
OF
COLUMBIA 
COURTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 17 of title 11, Dis-
trict of Columbia Official Code, is amended by in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
serting after section 11–1726 the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘§ 11–1726A. Voluntary separation incentive pay-
ments 
‘‘The Joint Committee on Judicial Administration 
may, by regulation, establish a program substantially simi-
lar to the program established under subchapter II of 
chapter 35 of title 5, United States Code, for nonjudicial 
employees of the District of Columbia courts, except that 
the maximum amount of the payment made under the pro-
gram to any individual may not exceed the amount re-
ferred to in section 3523(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United States 
Code.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of chapter 17 of title 11, District of Columbia 
Official Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 11–1726 the following new item: 
‘‘11–1726A. Voluntary separation incentive payments.’’. 
(b) PROGRAM FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC 
DEFENDER SERVICE.—Section 305 of the District of Co-
lumbia 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 substan-
tially similar to the program established under subchapter 
II of chapter 35 of title 5, United States Code, for employ-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
ees of the Service, except that the maximum amount of 
the payment made under the program to any individual 
may not exceed the amount referred to in section 
3523(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code.’’. 
(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 incen-
tive payment made prior to the date of the enactment of 
this Act under a program established by the Joint Com-
mittee on Judicial Administration in the District of Co-
lumbia or the District of Columbia Public Defender Serv-
ice. 
SEC. 5. ADJUSTMENTS IN COMPENSATION RATES FOR CER-
TAIN PERSONNEL. 
(a) ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING INDIGENT DEFEND-
ANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 11–2604(a), District 
of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘at a fixed rate of $90 per hour’’ and inserting ‘‘an 
hourly rate not to exceed the rate payable under sec-
tion 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 en-
actment of this Act. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(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)’’ each place it appears in subsections 
(b) and (c). 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this section shall apply with respect to investiga-
tive services provided in connection with cases and 
proceedings initiated on or after the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
SEC. 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,’’ 
after ‘‘the clerks of the courts,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(other than the Register 
of Wills and personal law clerks and secretaries 
of the judges)’’ and inserting ‘‘(other than per-
sonal law clerks and judicial administrative as-
sistants of the judges)’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 11– 
2102(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
amended by striking ‘‘The Superior Court shall ap-
point and remove’’ and inserting ‘‘Pursuant to sec-
tion 11–1725(b), the Executive Officer of the Dis-
trict of Columbia Courts shall appoint and may re-
move’’. 
(b) DETERMINATION
OF COMPENSATION.—Section 
11–2102(c), District of Columbia Official Code, is amend-
ed 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’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Courts’’. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF RETROACTIVE PAY ADJUST-
MENTS FOR COURT EMPLOYEES. 
Section 11–1726, District of Columbia Official Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(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— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) the employee is in the service of the Dis-
trict 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 pe-
riod beginning on the effective date of the increase 
and ending on the date of final action by the Execu-
tive Officer regarding the increase, except that retro-
active pay for such an employee shall be provided 
only with respect to services performed during that 
period.’’. 
SEC. 8. REVISING CERTAIN REFERENCES. 
(a) REFERENCES
TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVI-
SION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The District of Columbia 
Official Code is amended by striking ‘‘Domestic Vio-
lence Unit’’ each place it appears in the following 
sections and inserting ‘‘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). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) 
SPECIAL
RULES
FOR
MAGISTRATE 
JUDGES.—Section 11–1732A, District of Columbia 
Official Code, is amended— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Domes-
tic Violence Unit’’ and inserting ‘‘Domes-
tic Violence Division’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Domestic Violence Unit’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Domestic 
Violence Division’’. 
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 17 
of title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, is 
amended by amending the item relating to section 
11–1732A to read as follows: 
‘‘11–1732A. Special rules for magistrate judges of the Family Court of the Su-
perior Court and the Domestic Violence Division.’’. 
(b) REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLEC-
TUAL DISABILITIES.—(1) Section 11–501(2)(D), District 
of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘sub-
stantially retarded persons’’ and inserting ‘‘persons with 
moderate intellectual disabilities’’. 
(2) Section 11–921(a)(4)(D), District of Columbia 
Official Code, is amended by striking ‘‘substantially re-
tarded persons’’ and inserting ‘‘persons with moderate in-
tellectual disabilities’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(3) Section 11–1101(a)(15), District of Columbia Of-
ficial Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the at least mod-
erately mentally retarded’’ and inserting ‘‘persons with 
moderate intellectual disabilities’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:16 Aug 24, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H7941.IH
H7941
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS