{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-asks-us-marshal-superior-court-to-update-eviction-policies-after", "Norton Asks U.S. Marshal, Superior Court to Update Eviction Policies After Sensitive Tax Documents Were Left on Curb", "2017-11-03", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released Norton\u2019s letter to U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia Superior Court Michael Hughes and D.C. Superior Court Chief Judge H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse regarding an incident in which tax documents were left on a curb in D.C. during the eviction of a local tax company earlier this week.\u00a0 The letter requests that the Marshal\u2019s office and the Court reexamine eviction policies to ensure sensitive information is protected.\u00a0 The U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, executes the Superior Court\u2019s eviction orders.\u00a0 The Superior Court, whose judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, issues eviction orders under the landlord-tenant laws passed by the D.C. Council.\nIn her letter, Norton wrote, \u201cWhile I understand that landlords are responsible for removing their evicted tenants\u2019 property from their premises, the Superior Court and the U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court play a significant role in evictions.\u00a0 Therefore, I urge you to adopt protocols and policies to protect sensitive information during evictions\u2026.It is particularly important for policies and practices to be developed to protect sensitive information during evictions of commercial tenants that possess obviously sensitive information, such as tax and law firms or physician offices, as illustrated by the Speedy Tax Service eviction.\u00a0 However, evictions of tenants from residential premises may also involve the removal of sensitive information, so steps should be taken to protect sensitive information during such evictions, too.\u201d\nNorton\u2019s full letter is below.\nThe Honorable Michael A. Hughes  \n\tU.S. Marshal  \n\tDistrict of Columbia Superior Court  \n\tH. Carl Moultrie Courthouse  \n\t500 Indiana Ave. NW Room C-250  \n\tWashington, DC 20001\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Robert E. Morin  \n\tDistrict of Columbia Superior Court  \n\tChief Judge  \n\tH. Carl Moultrie Courthouse\u00a0\u00a0  \n\t500 Indiana Ave. NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20001\nDear Marshal Hughes and Chief Judge Morin:\nI was alarmed to read news reports that tax documents were left on a curb in the District of Columbia during the eviction this week of a tax company, Speedy Tax Service, from its office.\u00a0 Fortunately, it appears that the Treasury Department has attempted to collect these documents, and, apparently in light of these news reports, the U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia Superior Court has started an internal review of its eviction policies and practices, including how to protect sensitive information.\nWhile I understand that landlords are responsible for removing their evicted tenants\u2019 property from their premises, the Superior Court and the U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court play a significant role in evictions.\u00a0 Therefore, I urge you to adopt protocols and policies to protect sensitive information during evictions.\nAs you know, several entities are involved in the eviction process, and all have a role to play in protecting sensitive information.\u00a0 After the Superior Court approves an eviction, landlords, generally along with movers they have hired, enter their premises and remove the evicted tenant\u2019s property and place it on the curb.\u00a0 Prior to the removal of the property, Marshals enter the premises to check for individuals who may interfere with the eviction, and search for weapons and contraband that should not be left on the curb.\nIt is particularly important for policies and practices to be developed to protect sensitive information during evictions of commercial tenants that possess obviously sensitive information, such as tax and law firms or physician offices, as illustrated by the Speedy Tax Service eviction.\u00a0 However, evictions of tenants from residential premises may also involve the removal of sensitive information, so steps should be taken to protect sensitive information during such evictions, too.\nAs you know, the eviction process in the District is emblematic of the unique, hybrid federal-local criminal justice system here.\u00a0 The D.C. Council, which consists of locally elected officials, passes the landlord-tenant laws.\u00a0 The Superior Court, whose judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, issues eviction orders under the laws passed by the Council.\u00a0 The U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court, who is also appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, executes the Superior Court\u2019s eviction orders. \u00a0In other jurisdictions, all of these steps would be undertaken by local officials.\nAgain, I appreciate that the Marshal\u2019s office has apparently begun a review of its eviction policies and practices, and look forward to your findings.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-asks-us-marshal-superior-court-to-update-eviction-policies-after"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.892949290573597, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}