United StatesMakes D.C. judicial appointments automatic without Senate confirmation
Changes who decides and how quickly D.C. judges take office, affecting court staffing, case flow, and congressional oversight.
What it does
Directs the President to appoint D.C. court judges from the Judicial Nomination Commission’s recommended list instead of submitting nominees for Senate confirmation.
Rewrites statutory language throughout the Home Rule Act to replace 'nomination' and 'nominate' with 'appointment' and 'appoint'.
Authorizes the Judicial Nomination Commission to appoint a person if the President fails to appoint from the Commission’s list.
Creates a new process for Congressional notice and a 30-calendar-day window for Congress to pass a joint resolution disapproving an appointment.
Argument forFaster filling of D.C. judicial vacancies by removing the full Senate confirmation step and making appointments effective after a set 30-day notice period.
Argument againstRemoves the Senate’s traditional advice-and-consent confirmation role for D.C. judges, which critics may see as reducing federal oversight and vetting.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 18Introduced in SenateLatest
- Jun 18Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.Introduced
Government & EthicsCriminal JusticeConsumer Protection