Rule 1 Scope; Purpose; Title; Applicability of Civil Rules; Other Proceedings

Assigned to the Domestic Violence Division

(a) SCOPE. These rules govern the procedure in all civil protection order proceedings filed under D.C. Code §§ 16-1001 to -1006 (2012 Repl. & 2017 Supp.).

(b) PURPOSE. These rules should be construed, administered, and employed by the court and the parties to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every civil protection order proceeding and to effectuate the statutory intent of eliminating domestic and family violence.

(c) TITLE. These rules may be known as the Rules Governing Proceedings in the Domestic Violence Division and may be cited as “Super. Ct. Dom. Vio. R. ___.”

(d) APPLICABILITY OF CIVIL RULES. Except when inconsistent with these rules or with the expeditious nature of civil protection order proceedings, the following Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure are deemed applicable to civil protection order proceedings: 6, 9, 9-I, 11 (except that a party does not have to provide the party’s address, phone number, or e-mail address if doing so poses safety concerns), 43, 43-I, 44, 44-I, 44.1, 46, 59, 61, 63, 63-I, 77(c)(1), 79, 79-I, 80, 82, 86, 101, 102, 103, 104, 201, and 203.

(e) OTHER PROCEEDINGS ASSIGNED TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION. Criminal proceedings assigned to the Domestic Violence Division are governed by the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure. Except when inconsistent with these rules or federal law, domestic relations proceedings assigned to the Domestic Violence Division are governed by the General Rules of the Family Division and the Rules Governing Domestic Relations Proceedings.