[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FEDERAL JUDICIAL OFFICIALS 
                         RESIDENCY EQUALITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2023

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Federal Judicial Officials Residency Equality Act, which would require 
the federal district court judges, federal circuit court judges, U.S. 
Attorney, U.S. Marshals and federal court clerk appointed to serve D.C. 
to reside in D.C. In nearly every other jurisdiction in the United 
States, such officials are required by federal law to reside in the 
jurisdiction they have been appointed to serve. The only exceptions are 
the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal for the Northern Mariana Islands who 
at the same time are serving in the same capacity in another 
jurisdiction, and officials appointed to the Southern District of New 
York and the Eastern District of New York, which are the only districts 
in different parts of the same city.
  The requirement that these federal officials reside in the 
jurisdiction they serve is related to knowledge of the community and to 
the effect of decisions. As stated in the official commentary to the 
Code of Conduct for United States Judges, ``a judge should not become 
isolated from the society in which the judge lives.'' The same holds 
true for other federal officials. This bill recognizes that D.C. 
deserves federal officials with the same understanding and links to the 
community as Congress has seen fit to require for federal officials in 
other jurisdictions.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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