| Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Judicial Nomination Commission.
 
What is the number of Commission members?
The District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC) is composed of seven members—two are appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia (one non-lawyer), two by the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Bar (Unified), one (non-lawyer) by the Council of the District of Columbia, one by the President of the United States, and one judicial member appointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Each member is appointed for a six-year term, except the member appointed by the President, who is appointed for a five-year term.
Is there a DC residency requirement?
Yes, there is a District of Columbia residency requirement to apply for a judicial vacancy. When the Commission sends to the President of the United States the names of persons to fill a vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia or the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, it will include only those persons who fully meet the statutory qualifications for nomination by the president, including the requirement that such person "is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia and has maintained an actual place of abode in the District for at least 90 days," so that such persons will be eligible for nomination by the President as of the time the president receives the names from the Judicial Nomination Commission. Applicants must meet the residency requirements by the time the President of the United States receives their names from the Judicial Nomination Commission.
Where is the Commission located?
The Commission is located at DC Superior Court Building A, 515 5th Street, NW, Suite 235, Washington, DC 20001.
What is the approximate length of the nomination process?
The JNC has 60 days within which a judicial vacancy occurs to submit the names of three candidates to the President. The President then has 60 days to nominate a candidate from the list and submit that individual's name to the US Senate for confirmation. The Senate is not required by law to hold confirmation hearings or otherwise act on the nomination within a prescribed period of time.
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