Rep. Norton Slams GOP Proposal to Repeal DC Judicial Nomination Commission

Opposition to Repealing DC Judicial Nomination Commission

• 🏛️ Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton strongly opposes a Republican bill to eliminate the District of Columbia's role in selecting local judges.
• 📢 The bill would bypass local control, allowing President Trump to directly appoint judges, a move Norton argues is wrong.
• 📝 Norton sought to enter letters of opposition from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, the DC Council, DC Attorney General Brian Swell, and the DC Bar into the record.

DC Home Rule Act and Judicial Appointments

• 📜 Under the DC Home Rule Act, the President nominates judges with Senate consent, but must select from a list provided by the DC Judicial Nomination Commission.
• ⚖️ The commission ensures DC residents have a limited role: commissioners must be DC residents, DC appoints three of seven members, and a public comment period is held.
• ❌ Republicans claim the commission limits presidential authority, but Norton counters that Congress has plenary authority over DC and has granted local authority for judge selection.

Legal Precedent and Judicial Vacancy Crisis

• 🧑‍⚖️ Norton cites a 2020 Supreme Court decision regarding Puerto Rico, stating the appointments clause doesn't restrict Congress's power to vest local officers with local duties.
• ⏳ The longstanding judicial vacancy crisis is not due to the commission but due to the President and Senate not prioritizing local DC judges, with one vacancy existing since 2013.

Empowering DC Residents and Public Safety

• 🗳️ Norton advocates for granting DC's over 700,000 residents the authority to select their own local judges, emphasizing their capability for self-governance.
• ⚠️ She argues that Republicans' distrust of DC residents' self-government exacerbates the judicial vacancy crisis, harming public safety and access to justice.
• 💡 A proposed solution is to make appointments effective 30 days after nomination unless Congress disapproves, similar to DC's legislative review process.
• ✊ Norton urges a vote against the Judicial Nominations Reform Act and calls for granting DC statehood.