District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-5125
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
Introduced: 2025-09-04
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Advisory bodies

District of Columbia

Judges

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

State and local courts
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-18
text: Received in the Senate.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-09-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act</strong></p><p>This bill terminates the District of Columbia (DC) Judicial Nomination Commission. </p><p>Currently, the commission recommends to the President nominees for judges for DC's Superior Court and Court of Appeals, who must then be confirmed by the Senate. The commission also appoints the chief judges for these courts. The bill terminates the commission's involvement&nbsp;in nominations and requires the President to appoint the chief judges.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5125 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to terminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025 . 2. Termination of District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (a) Termination The District of Columbia Home Rule Act is amended by striking section 434 (sec. 1–204.34, D.C. Official Code). (b) Conforming amendments relating to appointment of judges (1) Designation of chief judges by President Section 431(b) of such Act (sec. 1–204.31(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking the District of Columbia Judicial Nominating Commission established by section 434 and inserting the President . (2) Appointment by President Section 433(a) of such Act (sec. 1–204.33(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking Except as provided in section 434(d)(1), the President shall nominate, from the list of persons recommended to him by the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission established under section 434, and inserting The President shall nominate, . (3) Qualifications of judges Section 433(b) of such Act (sec. 1–204.33(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended— (A) by adding and at the end of paragraph (3); (B) by striking paragraph (4) and redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4); and (C) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking or of the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission . (c) Other conforming amendment Section 11–1528(a)(2), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (C). (d) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 434. (e) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to appointments made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives September 17, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5125 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 4, 2025 Mr. Sessions introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to terminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act . 2. Termination of District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (a) Termination The District of Columbia Home Rule Act is amended by striking section 434 (sec. 1–204.34, D.C. Official Code). (b) Conforming amendments relating to appointment of judges (1) Designation of chief judges by President Section 431(b) of such Act (sec. 1–204.31(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking the District of Columbia Judicial Nominating Commission established by section 434 and inserting the President . (2) Appointment by President Section 433(a) of such Act (sec. 1–204.33(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking Except as provided in section 434(d)(1), the President shall nominate, from the list of persons recommended to him by the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission established under section 434, and inserting The President shall nominate, . (3) Qualifications of judges Section 433(b) of such Act (sec. 1–204.33(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended— (A) by adding and at the end of paragraph (3); (B) by striking paragraph (4) and redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4); and (C) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking or of the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission . (c) Other conforming amendment Section 11–1528(a)(2), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (C). (d) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 434. (e) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to appointments made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.