D.C. agencies and websites would remove judges’ personal details on request

D.C. agencies would stop publicly sharing the requested personal details. This covers D.C. government agencies, employees and instrumentalities. Judges could ask D.C. Superior Court for an order or ruling if an agency fails to comply.

People and private organizations would remove requested details online and stop passing them to others. This covers people, businesses, and other private organizations, including every website they control. A judge could seek a court order or ruling if a violation makes their details public. If the judge wins, the violator must pay the judge’s costs and reasonable lawyer fees.

People and private organizations could not seek, sell, or trade judges’ details online with intent to pose a serious, immediate threat to judges’ or close family members’ health and safety. Protected family members include spouses, children, and parents. Other blood relatives of the judge or the judge’s spouse qualify only if they live with the judge. No violation could be found unless the judge had submitted a written privacy request.

Eligible judges could submit signed requests identifying the personal information to protect. This covers active and retired U.S. Supreme Court justices and judges in federal appeals, district, and bankruptcy courts and D.C.’s Court of Appeals and Superior Court, including magistrate judges. Requests must be signed and identify the information to protect. Named close family members’ details qualify only if they could reasonably reveal the judge’s own personal information. The act would take effect after mayoral approval or a Council veto override and a 30-day congressional review.