District of Columbia Code
Chapter 14 - Chief Medical Examiner
§ 5–1414. Autopsies performed under court order

In the case of unexplained, sudden, violent, or suspicious death, when the body is buried without investigation, or there has been an inadequate investigation, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the United States Attorney's own motion, or at the request of a medical examiner, the Metropolitan Police Department, or another law enforcement agency, may petition the appropriate court for an order to conduct an inquiry. The court may order the body exhumed and an autopsy performed. In such cases, records and reports shall be filed as if the autopsy were performed prior to burial; except that, a copy of the report shall be furnished directly to the court.
(Oct. 19, 2000, D.C. Law 13-172, § 2915, 47 DCR 6308; Nov. 13, 2021, D.C. Law 24-45, § 3072(j), 68 DCR 010163.)
1981 Ed., § 11-2311.
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3072(j) of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-159, Aug. 23, 2021, 68 DCR 008602).
For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 2915 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-438, October 20, 2000, 47 DCR 8740).

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