119 S2854 IS: District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act U.S. Senate 2025-09-18 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2854IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsA BILLTo 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.