# 119-s-4837: District of Columbia Courts Judicial Vacancy Reduction Act

119-s-4837, District of Columbia Courts Judicial Vacancy Reduction Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD); status introduced (as of 2026-07-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4837
- As of: 2026-07-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4837
- Congress: 119
- Title: District of Columbia Courts Judicial Vacancy Reduction Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-18
- Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-10

## Summary

**This bill would change how District of Columbia court judges are chosen by requiring the President to appoint judges from names provided by a new District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission and it **removes the Senate's advice-and-consent role**.** - Judges and nominees: Judges would be appointed by the President from a slate the Commission supplies, replacing the current nomination-and-Senate-confirmation path. This shifts final selection toward the Executive and the local Commission. - District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission and process: The bill creates or clarifies the Commission's role to provide lists of candidates and to transmit appointment notices in specified cases. It also updates wording and procedures for how many candidates the Commission may send and how reappointment can work. - Congress and oversight: Congress would get a 30-calendar-day window to block an appointment by passing a joint resolution of disapproval under expedited procedures. If Congress does not act in that period the appointment becomes effective.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New D.C. judge appointment rules: mixed, low. This bill would change how judges for the District of Columbia courts are chosen. The President would appoint judges from lists the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission provides, and references to Presidential nomination and Senate confirmation would be replaced with appointment lang…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4837 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4837)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4837 (as of 2026-07-10).