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 com-
pensation rates for criminal justice investigators and at-
torneys representing indigent defenders, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia 
Courts Improvement Act of 2022’’. 
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SEC. 2. 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.— 
(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 allowances at the same rates 
provided under section 1871 of title 28, United States 
Code, for fees and allowances paid to grand and petit ju-
rors appearing in the district courts of the United 
States.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to fees 
and allowances 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 QUALI-
FICATION FORMS AND SUMMONSES.— 
(1) JUROR
QUALIFICATION
FORMS.—Section 
11–1906(c), District of Columbia Official Code, is 
amended— 
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(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’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘return’’ 
and inserting ‘‘submit’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The jury system plan shall provide that a juror 
qualification form be provided by mail to each prospective 
juror, except that the plan may permit the form to be pro-
vided by electronic communication to a prospective juror 
with the affirmative consent of the prospective juror.’’. 
(2) SUMMONSES.—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 af-
firmative consent of the prospective juror, by elec-
tronic 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 
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