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HR5125FEDERALSession 119Federal Billpassed chamber

Passed

Proposed Changes to How D.C. Judges Are Selected

Original title: District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025

Last action · September 18, 2025: Received in the Senate.Sponsors: Pete Sessions and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

This bill would eliminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission and transfer the authority to nominate D.C. judges directly to the President of the United States. If passed, the President would no longer be required to select candidates from a list provided by the local commission.

Why it matters

This change would shift the power to select local D.C. judges from a commission-based process to direct presidential appointment, potentially altering the criteria and political influence involved in filling judicial vacancies in the District.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

District of Columbia residents

The process for selecting the judges who preside over local D.C. courts would change from a commission-based recommendation system to direct presidential appointment.

Directly affected

President of the United States

The President would gain the authority to nominate D.C. judges and designate chief judges without the involvement of the local nominating commission.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who currently selects D.C. judges?

Currently, the President nominates judges from a list of candidates recommended by the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission.

What happens to the Judicial Nomination Commission if this bill passes?

The commission would be terminated, and its role in the judicial appointment process would be eliminated.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

15 actions

Sep 18, 2025Senate
Received in the Senate.
Sep 17, 2025House
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 17, 2025HouseFloor
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 211 (Roll no. 274). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4375)
Sep 17, 2025HouseFloor
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 211 (Roll no. 274). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4375: 5)
Sep 17, 2025House
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4394)
Sep 17, 2025House
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 5125, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Garcia (CA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

Show 9 earlier actions

Sep 17, 2025House
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Sep 17, 2025House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5125.
Sep 17, 2025House
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015 and H.R. 3062. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015, and H.R. 3062 under a closed rule, and provides for a motion to recommit on each measure.
Sep 17, 2025House
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 707. (consideration: CR H4375)
Sep 15, 2025House
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 707 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015 and H.R. 3062. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015, and H.R. 3062 under a closed rule, and provides for a motion to recommit on each measure.
Sep 10, 2025HouseCommittee
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 20.
Sep 10, 2025House
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Sep 4, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sep 4, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

What This Bill Would Do

Who It Would Affect

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

News Coverage

Where This Stands

Procedural history

Version history

Voting Record

Full breakdown

Sponsors

Discoveries

Centralization of Judicial Appointments

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