GW Law Library: Library Guides: District of Columbia (D.C.) Law: Courts

Note: Historical Research

This page discusses current sources.
Historical D.C. Court documents are discussed in the "Historical Research" section of this guide.

District of Columbia's Courts Explained
(Source: State Court Report, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, Sept. 22, 2023, updated May 13, 2024)

The District of Columbia has two courts with local jurisdiction:

D.C. Court of Appeals
Congress established the District of Columbia Court of Appeals as the highest court of the District of Columbia in 1970. The court consists of a chief judge and eight associate judges.

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The DC Court of Appeals is the equivalent of a state supreme court. As the highest court for the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals is authorized to review all final orders, judgments and specified interlocutory orders of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Court also has jurisdiction to review contested case decisions of administrative agencies, boards, and commissions of the District of Columbia government, as well as to answer questions of law certified by federal and state appellate courts. As authorized by Congress, the Court reviews proposed rules of the Superior Court and promulgates its own rules.
Superior Court of D.C.
Congress established the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as the trial court of general jurisdiction for the District of Columbia in 1970.
Code of Judicial Conduct for the D.C. Courts
Opinions of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct of the DC Courts

Opinions & Orders:

Opinions
Memorandum Opinions and Judgments (MOJs)
The court issues a Memorandum Order of Judgment (MOJ) in cases where the decision does not create new law, decide an important issue, or interpret a statute or concept that has yet to be reviewed. The court only lists the names and case numbers of MOJs; the decisions are not public and the identity of the writing judge is not disclosed. MOJ decisions may not be cited as authority in other cases.

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If a party believes that a specific MOJ decides an important issue or should otherwise be made public, a party may file a motion to publish no later than 30 days after the MOJ issues.
Orders & Notices

Oral Arguments:

Court Rules:

Rules of the DC Court of Appeals
"District of Columbia Court Rules Annotated," Volume 1 (print version), contains the rules for the D.C. Court of Appeals.

Dockets:

Other Publications:

District of Columbia digest, 1658 to date
Brief summaries and holdings in opinions of D.C. Court of Appeals and its predecessors, as well as cases relating to D.C. decided in federal court.

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Organized by West's topics and key numbers. Includes a Descriptive Word Index, "Words & Phrases" volumes and "Table of Cases." Updated by annual pocket parts and semiannual pamphlets.
District of Columbia Courts Newsroom
Current news about the D.C. courts.
Legal Glossary
(District of Columbia Courts)

Opinions & Orders:

Opinions & Orders
Not all opinions are printed. Chief Judge of the Superior Court decides which opinions will be made available for general publication.
Administrative Orders

Court Rules:

Rules of the D.C. Superior Court
"District of Columbia Court Rules Annotated," Volume 1 (print version), contains the Rules of the D.C. Superior Court.

Dockets:

Other Publications:

"Chapter 1: Finding the Law" in Volume 1, The District of Columbia Practice Manual
(The District of Columbia Bar)
District of Columbia Resources
(Georgetown Law Library)
Guide to Law Online: U.S. Washington, D.C.
(Law Library of Congress)

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