Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 84 Part 1.djvu/615

 84 STAT. ]

557

PUBLIC LAW 91-358-JULY 29, 1970

fine, the court may, in the event of default in the payment of the fine imposed, commit the defendant for a term not to exceed one year." (6) Sections 16-704, 16-707, 16-709, and 16-710 are each amended by striking out "Court of General Sessions" and "District of Columbia Court of General Sessions" wherever they appear and inserting in lieu thereof "Superior Court of the District of Columbia". (7) The heading of chapter 7 is amended by striking out "COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS" and inserting in lieu thereof "SUPERIOR COURT". (e) Chapter 9 of title 16, District of Columbia Code, is amended as follows: (1) Section 16-901 is amended by striking out "Domestic Relations Branch of the District of Columbia Court of General Sessions" and inserting in lieu thereof "Superior Court of the District of Columbia". (2)(A) Section 16-916 is amended— (i) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d) and by adding after subsection (b) the following new subsection: "(c) Whenever any father or mother shall fail to maintain his or her minor child or children, the court may decree that he or she shall pay reasonable sums periodically for the support and maintenance of his or her child or children, and the court may decree that the father or mother pay court costs, including counsel fees, to enable plaintiff to conduct the cases.", and (ii) by amending the section heading to read as follows: "§ 16-916. Maintenance of wife and minor children; maintenance of former wife; maintenance of minor children; enforcement". (B) The item relating to section 16-916 in the analysis of chapter 9 is amended to read as follows: "16-916. Maintenance of wife and minor children; maintenance of former wife; maintenance of minor children; enforcement." (3)(A) Section 16-918 is amended to read as follows: " (a) I n all uncontested divorce cases, and in any other divorce or annulment case where the court deems it necessary or proper, a disinterested attorney shall be appointed by the court to enter his appearance for the defendant and actively defend the cause. " (b) In any proceeding wherein the custody of a child is in question, the court may appoint a disinterested attorney to appear on behalf of the child and represent his best interests. "(c) An attorney appointed under this section may receive such compensation for his services as the court determines to be proper, which the court may direct to be paid by the parties." (B) The item relating to section 16-918 in the analysis of chapter 9 is amended to read as follows: "16-918. Appointment of counsel; compensation." (f) Chapter 13 of title 16, District of Columbia Code, is amended as follows: (1) Section 16-1301 is amended to read as follows: "§ 16-1301. Jurisdiction of District Court "The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has exclusive jurisdiction of all proceedings for the condemnation of real property authorized by subchapters IV and V of this chapter, with full power to hear and determine all issues of law and fact that may arise in the proceedings." (2) Subchapter I is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:
 * '§ 16-918. Appointment of counsel; compensation

77 Stat. 558.

77 Stat. 560. D.C. Code 16-901.

79 Stat. 8 8 9.

D.C. Code 16-1301.

77 Stat. 577; Post, p. 559, D.C. c o d e 161351, 16-1381.

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