In the interest of the District of Columbia Courts, the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration approved an Employee Dispute Resolution (EDR) Plan that demonstrates commitment to a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. All judges and employees are expected to treat each other with respect, civility, fairness, tolerance and dignity.

For decades, the District of Columbia Courts has cared about the workplace environment as demonstrated by the implementation of fair and active employment policies, such as Equal Employment Opportunity, Sexual Harassment, Anti-Bullying and Family Medical Leave. Through implementation of these policies, many employment issues have been resolved.

The District of Columbia Courts’ EDR Plan is another way of living the Courts’ values of Accountability, Excellence, Fairness, Integrity, Respect and Transparency. The EDR Plan implements flexible, informal and formal methods of raising concerns and serves as a timely complement to our comprehensive personnel policies.

Current and former staff can file complaints up until 180 days after their separation date unless there is participation in the assisted resolution phase.

1. Informal Advice

   To request advice about a workplace concern, contact the DC Courts Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and EEO Office. Our office will actively listen and explain:

   • Your rights, and
   • Offer advice on addressing your concerns at step 1, step 2 or step 3
      
2. Assisted Resolution

   This interactive, flexible process may include:

   • Discussions with the source(s) of the conduct concern,
   • Preliminary inquiry,
   • Resolving the matter through mediation, or
   • Resolving the matter by agreement
      
3. Formal Complaint

   Contact the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and EEO Office or the Committee on the Selection and Tenure of Magistrate Judges, if applicable, to file a formal complaint. The Complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged violation or the discovery of the violation unless you are engaged in the assisted resolution process. The formal process includes:

   • A review by a presiding officer and possible hearing, and/or
   • Written decision.

Shared Neutrals (SN), also known as Sharing Neutrals, is an interagency mediation program in the National Capital Region including the Washington, DC area and Baltimore. Management of the program was transferred from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in December 2018.

Every individual and agency participating in SN agrees to abide by principles of confidentiality, as outlined in Section 574 of the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act as amended in 1996 and the Shared Neutrals Standards of Practice.

The SN Program uses telephone mediation and conference calls for workplace conflict resolution. Contact the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and EEO Office to schedule workplace mediation.

• Request for Assisted Resolution - EDR Plan
• Formal Complaint - EDR Plan
• Formal EEO Complaint - Comprehensive Personnel Policies 400 and 410
• Bullying Complaint Form - Personnel Policy 420
• Acknowledgement Form - EDR Plan, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policies

• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017

• The District of Columbia Court's Employee Dispute Resolution Plan (Updated January 2022)
• Comprehensive Personnel Policy 400 - Equal Employment Opportunity
• Comprehensive Personnel Policy 410 - Sexual Harassment
• Comprehensive Personnel Policy 420 - Anti-Bullying