January 12, 2026
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
To provide for coverage of employees of the District of Columbia courts and the District of Columbia Public Defender Service under the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Employment Non-Discrimination Act
.
Sec. 2. Coverage of employees under District of Columbia Human Rights Act
(a) Coverage
(1) Employees of District of Columbia courts
Section 11–1726, District of Columbia Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(e)
For purposes of the Human Rights Act of 1977 (sec. 2–1401.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code), a nonjudicial employee of the District of Columbia courts shall be considered to be an employee under such Act and the District of Columbia courts shall be considered to be an employer under such Act.
(2) Employees of District of Columbia Public Defender Service
Section 305 of the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970 (sec. 2–1605, D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(e)
For purposes of the Human Rights Act of 1977 (sec. 2–1401.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code), an employee of the Service shall be considered to be an employee under such Act and the Service shall be considered to be an employer under such Act.
(b) Exclusion from separate procedures established for complaints against agencies of District government
Section 303 of the Human Rights Act of 1977 (sec. 2–1403.03, D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(c)
This section does not apply with respect to complaints filed against—
(1)
the District of Columbia courts or officials and employees of the District of Columbia courts; or
(2)
the District of Columbia Public Defender Service or officials and employees of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service.
(c) Effective date
The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to complaints filed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.