H.R. 9362 proposes to change the process for appointing judges to the courts in the District of Columbia. Specifically, it would allow judges to be appointed automatically without needing approval from the Senate, streamlining the appointment process.
Supporters of H.R. 9362 argue that this bill would expedite the judicial appointment process in the District of Columbia, ensuring that courts are adequately staffed and can function effectively. They believe it enhances local governance by allowing the District to have more control over its judicial appointments.
Critics of H.R. 9362 express concerns that bypassing Senate approval for judicial appointments undermines the checks and balances system. They fear it could lead to politically motivated appointments and diminish the quality of judicial oversight in the District of Columbia.
The analysis of bill H.R. 9362, which pertains to the automatic appointment of judges to the District of Columbia courts, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the sponsor, Eleanor Norton, and her top donor industries. The lobbying activity in this policy area includes significant contributions from various entities, such as Vertex Pharmaceuticals ($60,000) and Intermountain Health ($50,000), but these industries do not directly relate to judicial appointments or the legislative subject matter of the bill. Therefore, the risk of conflicts of interest appears minimal. Voters should note that while there is substantial lobbying activity, it does not intersect with the specific legislative agenda of this bill, suggesting that the sponsor's decisions may not be unduly influenced by donor interests.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | $60,000 |
| SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | $60,000 |
| INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH | MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE LLP | $50,000 |
| WAYFINDER GROUP (OBO RESEARCH CORPORATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII) | RED MAPLE CONSULTING, LLC | $40,000 |
| FRONTIER INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LLC | KOUNTOUPES DENHAM CARR & REID, LLC | $30,000 |
| ECKERD CONNECTS | KOUNTOUPES DENHAM CARR & REID, LLC | $30,000 |
| SMART APPROACHES TO MARIJUANA | OFF HILL STRATEGIES L.L.C. | $20,000 |
| FEDERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER COS OF JAPAN | GEORGE H. DENISON | $10,000 |
| MAYO CLINIC | MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE LLP | undisclosed |
| VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | undisclosed |
| THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE, INC. | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | undisclosed |
| THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE, INC. | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | undisclosed |
| SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | undisclosed |
| PAC-12 CONFERENCE | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | undisclosed |
| ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE | MARSHALL & POPP, LLC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Eleanor Norton, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
