Superior Court Amends Civil, Criminal Procedure Rules

June 11, 2024

On June 10 the Superior Court of the District of Columbia issued Promulgation Order 24-02 amending Rules of Civil Procedure 4, 6, 15, and 84 as well as Promulgation Order 24-03 amending Rules of Criminal Procedure 16, 45, and 62.

The Rules of Civil Procedure were amended for consistency with 2023 updates to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In revised D.C. Rule of Civil Procedure 4, new subsection (c)(7) authorizes alternative methods of summons service in the event of an emergency declaration. In revised Rule 15, subsection (a)(1) clarifies that the right to amend a pleading continues without interruption until 21 days after the earlier of the events described in subsection (a)(1)(B).

Amended Rules of Criminal Procedure 16 and 62 reflect the 2023 amendments to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure regarding expert witness reports (Rule 16) and rules emergencies (Rule 62). Rule 45 now includes District of Columbia Emancipation Day and Juneteenth National Independence Day in the definition of legal holiday.

The abovementioned amendments take place immediately.