These rules govern the procedure in all civil actions and proceedings in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, with the exception of cases in the Landlord and Tenant Branch and the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of the court and other exceptions stated in Rule 81. They should be construed, administered, and employed by the court and the parties to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and proceeding.
Rule 1.Scope and Purpose
Group I: Scope of Rules; Form of Action · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1 sets the scope of the District of Columbia Superior Court's civil rules — covering civil actions and proceedings in the Civil Division except Landlord and Tenant Branch and Small Claims and Conciliation Branch matters — and directs that the rules be construed and used to secure a just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every case.
Full Text of Rule 1
Comments
2017 Amendments:
This rule was amended consistent with the 2007 and 2015 amendments to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 1. The addition of the phrase “employed by the court and the parties” is intended to emphasize that the court, parties, and attorneys are all responsible for using these rules to achieve the stated goals.
Comment:
This Rule parallels Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 1 but has been modified to reflect applicability to appropriate cases in the Superior Court. Note that these Rules do not, by their own terms, extend to cases in the Landlord and Tenant Branch or the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch; however, the separate Rules for those respective branches do designate certain of these Rules for incorporation by reference therein. Further, the scope of these rules will necessarily be expanded in the future as new rules are promulgated to govern procedure in areas (such as probate) over which the court receives jurisdiction in subsequent increments. See D.C. Code (1967 Edition, Supplement IV) § 11-921.
The phrase "these Rules" refers to the entire body of Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, those derived from the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and those purely local Rules bearing numbers above 100. Any reference herein to a particular Rule, as, for example, "Rule 69" comprehends both the original Rule and any addenda thereto, e.g., "69-I" and "69-II".
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1 draws the boundary line for the entire body of civil rules that follow. It reaches civil actions and proceedings handled by the Civil Division of the Superior Court, but it carves out two branches that run on their own procedures: the Landlord and Tenant Branch and the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch. Rule 81 lists further exceptions, so a case that looks like an ordinary civil matter can still fall outside these rules if Rule 81 says so.
The second sentence carries the weight of the rule. The civil rules exist for a purpose — reaching a just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution of every action — and that purpose guides how courts read every other rule in the set when the text does not resolve a dispute on its own. The 2017 amendment added that the rules are to be "employed by the court and the parties," a small change with a clear message: judges are not the only ones responsible for keeping a case moving efficiently. Lawyers and self-represented litigants share that job every time they file something or ask for an extension.
Read together, Rule 1 tells a litigant two things before diving into the details of pleading, service, or discovery: check whether these rules even apply to your case, and remember that every later rule is meant to serve the same three goals — justice, speed, and reasonable cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rule 1 apply to every civil case filed in DC Superior Court?
No. It covers civil actions and proceedings in the Civil Division, but it expressly excludes cases in the Landlord and Tenant Branch and the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, along with any other exceptions listed in Rule 81.
What goals is a judge supposed to keep in mind when applying these rules?
Rule 1 directs that the rules be construed and used to secure a just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and proceeding. That three-part goal — justice, speed, and reasonable cost — informs how courts read the rules that follow.
Who is responsible for using the rules to reach a fair and efficient result?
Both the court and the parties. Rule 1 was amended to state that the rules are to be construed, administered, and employed by the court and the parties, making clear that attorneys and litigants share responsibility for efficient case management, not just the judge.
If my case is a landlord-tenant dispute or a small claim, do these civil rules ever apply?
Not directly — those branches operate under their own separate rules. Those branch-specific rules sometimes point back to particular provisions of these civil rules and incorporate them by reference, but the civil rules as a whole do not automatically govern landlord-tenant or small-claims cases.
Where do I find the other exceptions to the scope of these rules?
Rule 81 collects the additional carve-outs and special applications, so it is the rule to check whenever a case type raises a question about whether these civil rules apply in full, in part, or not at all.
Source & verification. Rule text and official Comments are
reproduced verbatim from the District of Columbia Superior Court Rules of Civil
Procedure, adopted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
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