1st Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

103-174

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUSTICE REFORM ACT OF

1993

JULY 13, 1993.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. STARK, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H.R. 1631]

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 1631) to amend title 11, District of Columbia Code, to increase the maximum amount in controversy permitted for cases under the jurisdiction of the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

The bill raises from $2,000 to $5,000 the limit on cases which can be brought in the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of the Civil Division of the D.C. Superior Court (hereinafter referred to as the "small claims court"). Permitting more cases to be handled in small claims court should help resolve many more disputes in a rather informal setting, while freeing Superior Court judges to handle more pressing and complex civil and criminal cases.

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

SMALL CLAIMS COURT

Under the Home Rule Act, Congress retains exclusive jurisdiction to amend title 11 of the D.C. Code (establishing the local court system of the District of Columbia). The council of the District of Columbia is precluded from amending that title.