Bill · H.R. 7020· House(119-HR-7020)
District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Employment Non-Discrimination Act
- Introduced
- 1/12/2026
- Last activity
- 1/12/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Sponsored by
- Eleanor Norton
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Employment Non-Discrimination Act," aims to expand coverage under the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. It seeks to include nonjudicial employees of the District of Columbia courts as employees under the Act and designates the courts as an employer. Additionally, it extends similar employee and employer status to the District of Columbia Public Defender Service for the purposes of the Human Rights Act of 1977. The bill also modifies existing procedures regarding complaints against District government agencies. These changes would apply to complaints filed on or after the date the Act is enacted.
Yes
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+5
By extending Human Rights Act coverage to court and public defender employees, the bill bolsters protections against discrimination.
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?+5
The bill extends non-discrimination protections to employees of the D.C. courts and the Public Defender Service under the Human Rights Act.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The bill clarifies the employer status of the courts and Public Defender Service under human rights laws.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expanded Protections for Court Employees: Nonjudicial employees of the District of Columbia courts would be considered employees under the Human Rights Act of 1977, which establishes the courts as an employer (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Expanded Protections for Public Defender Service Employees: Employees of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service would be considered employees under the Human Rights Act of 1977, which establishes the Service as an employer (Section 2(a)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Changes to Complaint Procedures: Section 303 of the Human Rights Act of 1977 would be amended so that the established separate procedures for complaints against District government agencies do not apply to complaints filed against the District of Columbia courts, their officials, or their employees, nor to the District of Columbia Public Defender Service or its officials and employees (Section 2(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- 1/12/2026
- Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E24-25)
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Introduced in House