May 22, 2019

Contact: Jack Miller – 202-225-8050

 

Norton Statement on Confirmation of Carl J. Nichols to U.S. District Court for D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Senate confirmation today of Carl J. Nichols to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement:

“Despite repeated requests, the Trump administration has continued to make federal judge and other law enforcement nominations in D.C. without consulting my office, breaking with even Republican precedent.  I wrote President Trump requesting that he extend this courtesy for key federal positions in the District, a courtesy extended to me by President George W. Bush.  Presidents Clinton and Obama went much further, extending me the “senatorial courtesy” of recommending federal district court judges and law enforcement officials, since D.C. residents have no representation in their own United States Senate.  I established a D.C. Judicial Nomination Committee, which screened and recommended candidates before I recommended them to the President.

“On behalf of D.C. residents, I will continue to seek some consultation and call out the administration for breaking this Republican precedent.  The District has been disrespected and disregarded by this administration in too many ways and it cannot be allowed to go unheeded.”

Norton will soon introduce a bill that would require federal district judges, the U.S. Attorney, and the U.S. Marshals serving in D.C. to live in D.C., as she has previously done, consistent with virtually all other U.S. jurisdictions.  The bill is part of her “Free and Equal D.C.” series of legislation, which insists on equal rights for D.C. residents, and is possible under the Home Rule Act even before the District achieves statehood.