Judicial selection in Washington, D.C.
From Judgepedia
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Selection of Justices
There are 9 judgeships on the Court of Appeals and 63 on the Superior Court. Justices on the Court of Appeals and the Superior Court are selected by presidential appointment from a judicial nominating commission with the senate's confirmation. [1]
- Judicial Nominating Commission
The District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, otherwise known as "JNC" is located at the DC Superior Court Building A. The Commission is composed of seven members. Two members, one being a non-lawyer, are appointed by the mayor of the District of Columbia, as well as two members who are then chosen by the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Bar (Unified). A non-lawyer member is chosen by the Council of the District of Columbia, one member by the President of the United States, and one judicial member chosen by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Members are chosen for six year terms, excluding the member who is chosen by the President, their term lasting 5 years.[2]
Appointed Term Duration
Justices appointed to the Superior Court and the Court of Appeals are in term for 15 years. Judges, after 15 years, are retained by reappointment. [1]
Qualifications
The most necessary qualifications to become a judge on the Court of Appeals and the Superior Court is being a U.S. citizen and D.C. resident 90 days prior to appointment. In addition to being an active member of the D.C. bar for 5 years, a professor at a D.C. law school or an attorney employed by the U.S. or D.C. government, as well as having to retire at the mandatory age of 74.[1]
History of the Court
- Amendments to the State Constitution
The D.C. Home Rule Charter and the D.C. code outline the selection method and term lengths for D.C. judges. Changes in the judicial selection process must first be put into action by the D.C. Council and then submitted to the Congress for review. Such measures as these become law unless Congress takes up a joint resolution of disapproval signed by the president.
In 1973, the judicial disabilities and tenure commission began evaluation of judges who wanted to be reappointed. The judicial nomination commission was created in 1973 to propose candidates for judicial appointment to the president. In 1984, the mandatory retirement age of all judges was raised from the age of 70 to 74.
It was in the year 1986 that judges who intended to seek reappointment had to notify the judicial disabilities and tenure commission within six months, instead of the former three months, of the expiration of their terms. Evaluations of the judges who are all seeking reappointment must be presented to the president within sixty days. The judicial nomination commission must then submit its list of nominees to the president within sixty days of the occurrence of a vacancy on the court.[3]
- Acts by Legislature
Until Congress passed the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970, federal courts in D.C. had both federal and local jurisdiction. This legislation act of 1970 established the superior court and the court of appeals to take over responsibility for all local jurisdiction. This legislation also created the judicial disabilities and tenure commission.
References
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The Washington, D.C. Project on Judgepedia
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