270+ Legal, Business, and Advocacy Leaders Join CCE in Urging Senate to Reject Bills Undermining D.C.’s Legal System

September 25, 2025 - More than 270 law firms, business leaders, legal advocates, national democracy and rule of law organizations, community nonprofits and individuals have joined CCE in sending a letter to members of the U.S. Senate asking them to reject two bills that would strip both the independence of the D.C. Attorney General’s office and local input into D.C.’s judicial selection process. Read the full letter and see the list of signatories HERE.

The sign-on letter, coordinated by CCE and delivered today to Senate leadership, opposes two bills introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives; one of these has already passed the full house and has been introduced in the Senate. H.R. 5125 would dissolve the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC), and give the President sole authority to appoint judges to the D.C. courts, and eliminate the city’s long-standing and successful non-partisan judicial vetting process. H.R. 5179 would end the democratic process of electing the D.C. Attorney General and make the position of D.C.’s chief legal officer a Presidential appointment not subject to Senate review. The bill to abolish the JNC passed the House with minimal debate and no community input and is now under Senate review; the legislation to make the A.G. a presidential appointee passed out of a House committee and will be heard by the House and the Senate in the coming weeks.

“When it comes to these bills, Congress would do well to remember: ‘if isn’t broken don’t fix it,’” said Misty Thomas Zaleski, executive director of CCE. “The Judicial Nomination Commission is one of the best examples of effective federal-local collaboration, regardless of political parties. This proposal would silence the voice of D.C. residents, increase inefficiency, and inject presidential politics into our local courts.”

The letter includes signers ranging from major law firms and businesses, national and local advocates, legal community leaders, and concerned citizens. Despite a range of perspectives on D.C. policy, the signers are united in their opposition to what they call a dangerous federal overreach and a violation of Home Rule.

“Regardless of political affiliation or policy preference, there’s broad agreement that an independent Attorney General that represents the interests of the people of the District is vital to the fair administration of justice,” said Tracy Velázquez, CCE’s policy director. “These bills represent a direct attack on the integrity of our legal system.”

The letter warns that the proposed changes could politicize the judiciary and the attorney general’s office, and erode trust in D.C.’s legal institutions.