Norton Reintroduces Bill to Raise Pay of D.C. Superior Court Jurors to Match Pay of Federal Jurors

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced her District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act, which would raise the pay of D.C. Superior Court jurors to match that of federal jurors.

"The District of Columbia's local courts oversee crucial matters that impact our residents and the city," Norton said. "Our jurors deserve equal compensation for this important civic duty that our federal counterparts receive."

Norton's introductory statement follows:

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act

March 9, 2026

Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act, which would require D.C.'s local trial court, the Superior Court, to pay jurors the same amount federal courts pay jurors. Currently, the Superior Court pays jurors the same amount federal courts pay jurors, but the Superior Court has sometimes paid less.

Under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, Congress assumed responsibility for funding the local D.C. courts. The local D.C. courts, however, have always been under the direct control of Congress, even when they were funded by D.C. The D.C. Home Rule Act prohibits the D.C. Council from enacting any law with respect to any provision of Title 11 of the D.C. Code (relating to the organization and jurisdiction of the local D.C. courts). Under Title 11, the Board of Judges of the Superior Court sets juror pay.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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