The first judicial systems in the new District of Columbia were established by the
United States Congress in 1801.[1] The Circuit Court of the District of Columbia (not to be confused with the
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which it later evolved into) was both a trial court of
general jurisdiction and an appellate court, and it heard cases under both local and federal law. Congress also established
justices of the peace and an
orphans' court, which were combined in 1870 into a new local court called the Police Court. The Police Court had jurisdiction over
misdemeanors (concurrently with the federal courts) as well as
equity powers.[1][2] In 1909, Congress converted the Police Court into the Municipal Court, which became a court of record with jury trials in 1921.[1] In 1963, Congress again converted the Municipal Court into the Court of General Sessions. Its jurisdiction was broader, although the federal courts retained concurrent jurisdiction in criminal cases. Under the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970, the Court of General Sessions was combined with the Juvenile Court (established in 1906) and the D.C. Tax Court (established as the local Board of Tax Appeals in 1937) to form the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, a trial court of
general and mostly
exclusive jurisdiction for D.C.[1]
The court consists of a
chief judge and 61 associate judges. The court is assisted by the service of 24
magistrate judges and retired judges who have been recommended and approved as senior judges. When a vacancy occurs on the court, the
District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission invites applications. It sends three candidates' names to the President of the United States, who sends one nomination to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent. If the Senate confirms a judge, they serve for a 15-year term, which is renewable. The Superior Court and the D.C. Court of Appeals, known collectively as the D.C. Courts, comprise the judicial branch of D.C.'s local government.[3]
Landlord and Tenant Branch – processes cases filed for possession of
real property or violations of
lease agreements. The Landlord-Tenant Resource Center can assist those who do not have an attorney. The Center is located in Room 115 of Court Building B (510 Fourth Street, NW) and is open weekdays, from 9:15 to noon.
Small Claims and Conciliation Branch – Amount in controversy $10,000 and below. There is a Small Claims Resource Center to assist those without an attorney. It is located in Court Building B, Room 102, and is open from 9:15 to noon on Thursdays.
Housing Conditions Calendar handles cases in which landlords are alleged to have not kept their rental property compliant with the D.C. Housing Code.
Criminal Division – This division handles cases including
misdemeanor,
felony, and serious traffic offenses. The division also has Community Courts, which take a
problem-solving approach to misdemeanor crimes, a drug court, and a mental health court.
Marriage Bureau –
marriage licenses/records; applications to perform marriage ceremonies in the District of Columbia by authorized
ministers and others
Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect Branch is responsible for determining party eligibility for court-appointed counsel in child abuse and neglect proceedings and processes the appointment of attorneys for parties in these cases.
Family Court Self Help Center – "provides legal information and assistance to self-represented parties in Family Court Cases."
Family Treatment Court –"court-supervised, voluntary, comprehensive residential substance abuse treatment program for mothers/female caretakers whose children are the subject of a child neglect case."
Domestic Violence Division –
Domestic violence – Handles cases of violence by a family member or romantic partner, a person who shares living quarters, with whom one has a child in common, or between a former and current romantic partner. There are two intake centers: 1) the fourth floor of the Moultrie Courthouse, 2) the Medical Center at 1328 Southern Avenue, Suite 311. At either location, those seeking a protection order can meet with police/prosecutor, advocate, file a petition for a stay-away order and/or custody, seek the assistance of the Crime Victims Compensation Program, and talk with an advocate to develop a safety plan.
Probate Division/Office of the Register of Wills – handles matters relating to estates of those who have died, guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults, and other such matters.
Probate Resource Center – those without an attorney can consult volunteer attorneys about probate matters at the Probate Resource Center in Room 316 of Court Building A (515 Fifth Street, NW) 8:30 to 3:30 Monday through Friday.
Tax Division – Appeals and petitions for review of assessments made by the District of Columbia, as well as all proceedings brought by the District of Columbia for the imposition of criminal penalties according to the provisions of the
District of Columbia Code
Family Court Social Services Division – This division supervises juveniles who are awaiting trial on
juvenile charges or who are on
probation after pleading or being found involved in a crime.
Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division –
Mediation and
alternative dispute resolution services for those with court cases, as well as a Community Information Referral Program for disputes that have not yet resulted in a lawsuit being filed.
^
abcdGoodbread, Ronald A. (September 1, 2009). "A Brief Topical History of Local and Federal Trial and Appellate Courts in the District of Columbia". Daily Washington Law Reporter. p. 1847.
^Cave v. Rudolph, 53 App.D.C. 12, 16 (C.A.D.C. 1923).