Updating Disability Terminology in D.C. Court Laws

The Frame

What this does

This legislation standardizes legal language across D.C. court s to reflect modern terminology, ensuring that court documents and statutes use respectful, person-first language when referring to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Individuals with intellectual disabilities in D.C.

The legal code governing their interactions with the court system will be updated to use person-first terminology.

District of Columbia Courts

The courts must update their internal references and legal documents to align with the new terminology mandated by the amended code.

What changed

Last recorded activity September 27, 2024.

What's next

Introduced.

Background

The District of Columbia Official Code serves as the primary body of law for the District of Columbia, and amendments to it are often required to ensure consistency with federal standards or modern social norms. context

Summary

This bill updates outdated and offensive language in the by replacing terms like 'retarded' with 'persons with moderate intellectual disabilities.' These changes apply to the legal definitions used by the U.S. District Court, the Superior Court, and the Family Court in D.C.

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.

Why It Matters

This legislation standardizes legal language across D.C. court s to reflect modern terminology, ensuring that court documents and statutes use respectful, person-first language when referring to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill change the actual legal powers of the D.C. courts?

No, the bill is limited to updating terminology used in the D.C. Official Code; it does not alter the or authority of the courts.

Why is this change being made?

The bill aims to replace outdated and potentially offensive language with modern, respectful terminology regarding individuals with intellectual disabilities.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Modernization of Legal Language

The bill reflects a broader legislative trend of removing outdated, stigmatizing language from government codes in favor of person-first terminology.

District of Columbia Official Code

Connected Entities

locationDistrict of Columbia“Subject of the bill's amendments”Map →

organizationUnited States District Court“Court jurisdiction impacted by the bill”Map →

personMr. Casey“Senator sponsoring the bill”Map →

bill_numberS. 3698“Bill number”Map →

personMr. Moran“Senator sponsoring the bill”Map →

organizationFamily Court“Court jurisdiction impacted by the bill”Map →

organization118th Congress“Legislative body”Map →

organizationU.S. Government Publishing Office“Source of the bill”Map →

organizationSuperior Court“Court jurisdiction impacted by the bill”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance30
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy5
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level