US HB7941 | 2019-2020 | 116th Congress
Status
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: Introduced on August 4 2020 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-08-04 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Pending: House Oversight and Reform Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]
Status: Introduced on August 4 2020 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-08-04 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Pending: House Oversight and Reform Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]
Summary
Revises provisions related to jurors, magistrates, and other judicial officers, and otherwise makes changes to provisions related to the District of Columbia courts. The bill expands authority for magistrate judges of the District's courts to perform certain judicial functions, including to issue arrest and search warrants, and punish an individual for contempt. The bill (1) provides that grand and petit jurors serving in the Superior Court of the District must receive fees and expenses equivalent to those provided to jurors serving in the U.S. district courts, (2) allows service of prospective jurors to be made by electronic communication, and (3) permits individuals 70 years of age or older to opt-out of jury service. The Joint Committee on Judicial Administration in the District and the District's Public Defender Service may each establish a voluntary separation incentive payments program for its employees substantially similar to that for certain federal employees and members of the uniformed services, except that the maximum payment amount to any individual may not exceed $25,000. The bill removes provisions for fixed hourly rates for legal representation of indigent defendants and criminal investigative and expert services for such defendants. The bill revises appointment and removal authority for the Executive Officer of the District's courts to include the Register of Wills. The District's courts may give retroactive pay increases to employees on board at the time an increase is ordered, and to those that have retired (not resigned) or died between the date the increase becomes effective and the date it is ordered.
Title
District of Columbia Courts Improvement Act of 2020
Sponsors
Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC] |
History
Date | Chamber | Action |
---|---|---|
2020-08-04 | House | Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. |
2020-08-04 | House | Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E723-724) |
2020-08-04 | House | Introduced in House |
Same As/Similar To
HB4683 (Related) 2019-10-15 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
HB5925 (Related) 2020-02-18 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
HB5925 (Related) 2020-02-18 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Subjects
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Disability and paralysis
District of Columbia
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Law
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs
State and local courts
Wages and earnings
Disability and paralysis
District of Columbia
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Law
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs
State and local courts
Wages and earnings
US Congress State Sources
Type | Source |
---|---|
Summary | https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7941/all-info |
Text | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr7941/BILLS-116hr7941ih.pdf |