Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 115 Part 3.djvu/31

 PUBLIC LAW 107-114—JAN. 8, 2002 115 STAT. 2105 Divisions of the Superior Court as of the date of enactment of this Act may remain before judges, including senior judges, in such other Divisions when— (i) the case remains at all times in full compliance with Public Law 105-89, if applicable; and (ii) the chief judge determines, in consultation with the presiding judge of the Family Court, based on the record in the case and any unique expertise, training, or knowledge of the case that the judge might have, that permitting the judge to retain the case would lead to permanent placement of the child more quickly than reassignment to a judge in the Family Court. (D) PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS AND PRO- CEEDINGS. —The chief judge of the Superior Court, in consultation with the presiding judge of the Family Court, shall give priority consideration to the disposition or transfer of the following actions and proceedings: (i) The action or proceeding involves an allegation of abuse or neglect. (ii) The action or proceeding was initiated in the family division prior to the 2-year period which ends on the date of enactment of this Act. (iii) The judge to whom the action or proceeding is assigned as of the date of enactment of this Act is not assigned to the Family Division. (E) PROGRESS REPORTS. —The chief judge of the Superior Court shall submit reports to the President, to the Committee on Appropriations of each House, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives at 6-month intervals for a period of 2 years after the date of submission of the transition plan required under paragraph (1) on the progress made towards disposing of actions or proceedings described in subparagraph (B). (F) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.— Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the chief judge, in consultation with the presiding judge of the Family Court, from transferring actions or proceedings pending before judges outside the Family Court at the enactment of this Act which do not involve allegations of abuse and neglect but which would otherwise fall under the jurisdiction of the Family Court to judges in the Family Court prior to the deadline as defined in subparagraph 2(B), particularly if such transfer would result in more efficient resolution of such actions or proceedings. (3) EFFECTIVE DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN.— The chief judge of the Superior Court may not take any action to implement the transition plan under this subsection until the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date the chief judge submits the plan to the President and Congress under paragraph (1). (c) TRANSITION TO REQUIRED NUMBER OF JUDGES. — (1) ANALYSIS BY CHIEF JUDGE OF SUPERIOR COURT.— The chief judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia

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