Civil and criminal jurisdiction

§ 11–521. Civil and criminal jurisdiction (a) Except in actions or proceedings over which exclusive jurisdiction is conferred by law upon other courts in the District, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in addition to its jurisdiction as a United States district court and to any other jurisdiction conferred by law, has all the jurisdiction possessed and exercised by it on January 1, 1964, and has original jurisdiction of all: (1) civil actions between parties, where either or both of them are resident or found within the District; and (2) offenses committed within the District (b) Except as otherwise specially provided, an action may not be brought in the District Court by original process against a person who is not resident or found within the District.