Rule 16. Discovery and Inspection

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District of Columbia Court Rules › Family Court › Superior Court Rules Governing Juvenile Proceedings › Super. Ct. Juv. R. 16

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

Text

(a) Governmental disclosure of evidence.

(1) Information subject to disclosure.

(A) Statement of respondent. Upon request of a respondent the Office of the

Attorney General shall disclose to the respondent and make available for inspection,

copying or photographing: any relevant written or recorded statements made by the

respondent, or copies thereof, within the possession, custody or control of the government,

the existence of which is known, or by the exercise of due diligence may become known,

to the Office of the Attorney General; that portion of any written recording containing the

substance of any relevant oral statement made by the respondent whether before or after

arrest in response to interrogation by any person then known to the respondent to be a

government agent; and recorded testimony of the respondent before a grand jury which

relates to the offense charged. The government shall also disclose to the respondent the

substance of any other relevant oral statement made by the respondent whether before or

after arrest in response to interrogation by any person then known by the respondent to be

a government agent if the government intends to use that statement at the factfinding

hearing.

(B) Prior record. Upon request of the respondent the government shall furnish to the

respondent such copy of the respondent's prior juvenile record, it [if] any, as is within the

possession, custody, or control of the government, the existence of which is known, or by

the exercise of due diligence may become known, to the Office of the Attorney General.

(C) Documents and tangible objects

ing.

(B) Prior record. Upon request of the respondent the government shall furnish to the

respondent such copy of the respondent's prior juvenile record, it [if] any, as is within the

possession, custody, or control of the government, the existence of which is known, or by

the exercise of due diligence may become known, to the Office of the Attorney General.

(C) Documents and tangible objects. Upon request of the respondent, the Office of

the Attorney General shall permit the respondent to inspect and copy or photograph books,

papers, documents, photographs, tangible objects, buildings or places, or copies or

portions thereof, which are within the possession, custody or control of the government,

and which are material to the preparation of the respondent's defense, or are intended for

use by the government as evidence in chief at the factfinding hearing, or were obtained

from or belong to the respondent.

(D) Reports of examinations and tests. Upon request of the respondent, the

prosecutor shall permit the respondent to inspect and copy or photograph any results or

reports of physical or mental examinations, and of scientific tests or experiments, or copies

thereof, which are within the possession, custody or control of the government, the

existence of which is known, or by the exercise of due diligence may become known, to

the prosecutor, and which are material to the preparation of the defense or are intended for

use by the government as evidence in chief at the trial.

(E) Expert witnesses. At the respondent's request, the Office of the Attorney

General shall disclose to the respondent a written summary of expert testimony the Office

of the Attorney General intends to use during its case in chief at trial. This summary must

describe the expert witnesses' opinions, the bases and the reasons therefor, and the

witnesses' qualifications.

in chief at the trial.

(E) Expert witnesses. At the respondent's request, the Office of the Attorney

General shall disclose to the respondent a written summary of expert testimony the Office

of the Attorney General intends to use during its case in chief at trial. This summary must

describe the expert witnesses' opinions, the bases and the reasons therefor, and the

witnesses' qualifications.

(2) Information not subject to disclosure. Except as provided in paragraphs (A), (B)

and (D) of subdivision (a)(1), this Rule does not authorize the discovery or inspection of

reports, memoranda, or other internal government documents made by the prosecutor or

other government agents in connection with the investigation or prosecution of the case, or

of statements made by government witnesses or prospective government witnesses

except as provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3500.

(3) Grand jury transcripts. Except as provided in Rule 6 and paragraph (a)(1)(A) of

this Rule, these Rules do not relate to discovery or inspection of recorded proceedings of a

grand jury.

(b) The respondent's disclosure of evidence.

(1) Information subject to disclosure.

(A) Documents and tangible objects. If the respondent requests disclosure under

paragraph (a)(1)(C) or (D) of this Rule, upon compliance with such request by the

government, the respondent, on request of the government, shall permit the government to

inspect and copy or photograph books, papers, documents, photographs, tangible objects,

or copies or portions thereof, which are within the possession, custody or control of the

respondent and which the respondent intends to introduce as evidence in chief at the trial.

(B) Reports of examinations and tests

government, the respondent, on request of the government, shall permit the government to

inspect and copy or photograph books, papers, documents, photographs, tangible objects,

or copies or portions thereof, which are within the possession, custody or control of the

respondent and which the respondent intends to introduce as evidence in chief at the trial.

(B) Reports of examinations and tests. If the respondent requests disclosure under

paragraph (a)(1)(C) or (D) of this Rule, upon compliance with such request by the

government, the respondent, on request of the government, shall permit the government to

inspect and copy or photograph any results or reports of physical or mental examinations

and of scientific tests or experiments made in connection with the particular case, or

copies thereof, within the possession or control of the respondent, which the respondent

intends to introduce as evidence in chief at the factfinding hearing or which were prepared

by a witness whom the respondent intends to call at the factfinding hearing when the

results or reports relate to the witness's testimony.

(C) Expert Witnesses. If the respondent requests disclosure under subparagraph

(a)(1)(E) of this Rule and the Office of the Attorney General complies, the respondent, at

the Office of the Attorney General's request, must disclose to the Office of the Attorney

General a written summary of expert testimony the respondent intends to use as evidence

at trial. This summary must describe the opinions of the witnesses, the bases and reasons

therefor, and the witnesses' qualifications.

) of this Rule and the Office of the Attorney General complies, the respondent, at

the Office of the Attorney General's request, must disclose to the Office of the Attorney

General a written summary of expert testimony the respondent intends to use as evidence

at trial. This summary must describe the opinions of the witnesses, the bases and reasons

therefor, and the witnesses' qualifications.

(2) Information not subject to disclosure. Except as to scientific or medical reports, this

paragraph does not authorize the discovery or inspection of reports, memoranda, or other

internal defense documents made by the respondent, or the respondent's attorneys or

agents in connection with the investigation or defense of the case, or of statements made

by the respondent, or by government or defense witnesses, or by prospective government

or defense witnesses, to the respondent, the respondent's agents or attorneys.

(c) Continuing duty to disclose. If, prior to or during the factfinding hearing, a party

discovers additional evidence or material previously requested or ordered, which is subject

to discovery or inspection under this Rule, the party shall promptly notify the other party or

the other party's attorney or the judicial officer of the existence of the additional evidence

or material.

(d) Regulation of discovery.

(1) Protection and modifying orders. Upon a sufficient showing the Family Court may

at any time order that the discovery or inspection be denied, restricted or deferred, or

make such other order as is appropriate. Upon motion by a party, the Family Court may

permit the party to make such showing, in whole or in part, in the form of a written

statement to be inspected by the judge alone. If the Family Court enters an order granting

relief following such an ex parte showing, the entire text of the party's statement shall be

sealed and preserved in the records of the Family Court to be made available to the

appellate court in the event of an appeal.

permit the party to make such showing, in whole or in part, in the form of a written

statement to be inspected by the judge alone. If the Family Court enters an order granting

relief following such an ex parte showing, the entire text of the party's statement shall be

sealed and preserved in the records of the Family Court to be made available to the

appellate court in the event of an appeal.

(2) Failure to comply with a request. If at any time during the course of the

proceedings it is brought to the attention of the Family Court that a party has failed to

comply with this Rule, the Family Court may order such party to permit the discovery or

inspection, grant a continuance, or prohibit the party from introducing evidence not

disclosed, or it may enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances. The

Family Court may specify the time, place and manner of making the discovery and

inspection and may prescribe such terms and conditions as are just.

(e) Alibi witness. Discovery of alibi witnesses is governed by Rule 12.1 of the Rules of

this Family Court.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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