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HR 5125119th CongressIntroduced
District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025
Introduced: Sep 4, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] (R-Texas)
Civil Rights & Justice
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025 would terminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (the DCJNC) and remove the Commission from the process of selecting judges for DC courts. Instead, the President would nominate judges for DC local courts (with no requirement to rely on the Commission’s list or recommendations). The bill also makes conforming changes to remove references to the DCJNC in relevant statutes, and it specifies that these changes apply to appointments made on or after the act’s enactment. In short, this bill shifts the selection authority for DC local judges away from a local merit-based screening body toward direct presidential nomination.
Key Points
- 1Termination of the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (DCJNC) that was established under section 434 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
- 2Replacing the Commission’s role with direct presidential nomination: the President shall nominate judges (no longer required to select from a Commission-recommended list).
- 3Conforming amendments to reduce or remove references to the DCJNC in appointment and qualification provisions for DC judges.
- 4Clerical and editorial changes: removal of the DCJNC-related section from the table of contents and related cross-references.
- 5Effective date: the changes apply to appointments made on or after the date of enactment; nominations before that date would not be subject to these new rules.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected- District of Columbia residents and the DC judiciary: the process for selecting judges for DC courts (e.g., the Superior Court and Court of Appeals) would shift from a local, merit-based nomination commission to direct presidential nomination, which could influence who becomes a judge and how nominees are evaluated.Secondary group/area affected- The President and the U.S. Senate (in practice): with the Commission removed, the President would have the central role in nominating DC judges, which may alter the balance of influence and timelines associated with confirming DC judges.- District of Columbia government and political dynamics: a shift away from local procedures toward federal executive control could affect local autonomy and how judicial vacancies are filled.Additional impacts- Judicial independence and diversity: removing a local merit-based screen may affect considerations like qualifications, diversity of nominees, and insulation from local politics.- Timelines and transitions: since the reform applies to appointments after enactment, there could be transitional questions about ongoing nominations and vacancies.- Legal and constitutional considerations: changes to the traditional DC local appointment process may raise questions about the interplay between federal authority and DC home-rule powers.
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