District of Columbia Criminal Justice Act
Public Law 93-412 · S. 3703 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 3, 1974 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Eagleton (D-MO)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
District of Columbia Criminal Justice Act - Directs the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration to place in operation in the District of Columbia a plan for furnishing representation to a person in the District of Columbia who is financially unable to obtain adequate representation, including those for whom the sixth amendment to the Constitution requires the appointment of counsel or for whom, in a case in which he faces loss of liberty, any local law requires the appointment of counsel.
Provides that counsel furnishing representation under the plan shall be selected from panels of attorneys designated or approved by the courts.
Provides that a person for whom counsel is appointed shall be represented at every stage of the proceedings from his initial appearance before the court through appeals.
Sets forth methods for determining payment rates for attorneys appointed pursuant to this Act, including an estimate of the respective percentage of indigent defendant cases which can be effectively handled by Public Defender Service, private attorneys, and qualified law students. Provides that counsel for a person who is financially unable to obtain investigative, expert, or other services necessary for an adequate defense may request them in an ex parte application.
Directs the Joint Committee to annually prepare and submit to the Commissioner of the District of Columbia its estimate of the amount needed for furnishing representation by private attorneys to persons entitled to representation in accordance with this Act.
Authorizes the appropriation to the District of Columbia of such funds as may be necessary for the administration of this Act in fiscal year 1975 and 1976.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
District of Columbia Committee · House · referred to, reported by
District of Columbia Committee · Senate · reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Sep 3, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-412.
- Aug 22, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Aug 21, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Aug 20, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Aug 15, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1295.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1295.
- Jul 17, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 15, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jul 9, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #366 (242-120).House roll call 366
- Jul 2, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House District of Columbia Committee
- Jun 28, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House District of Columbia Committee
- Jun 27, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Jun 26, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate District of Columbia Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.