Superior Court of the District of Columbia

Last updated

Superior Court of the District of Columbia
H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse - Washington, D.C.jpg
H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse in 2023
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Established1970
Location H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse, Judiciary Square, Washington, D.C.
Appeals to District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Number of positions62 judges (including chief judge)
Website www.dccourts.gov
Chief Judge
Currently Milton C. Lee
SinceOctober 1, 2024
U.S. Marshal
CurrentlyRobert Anthony Dixon
SinceDecember 5, 2019

The Superior Court of the District of Columbia, commonly referred to as DC Superior Court, is the trial court for the District of Columbia, in the United States. It hears cases involving criminal and civil law, as well as family court, landlord and tenant, probate, tax and driving violations (no permit and DUI). All appeals of Superior Court decisions go to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (though magistrate judge opinions are first appealed to a Superior Court Associate Judge).

Contents

History

The main court entrance on Indiana Avenue H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse main entrance.jpg
The main court entrance on Indiana Avenue

The first judicial systems in the new District of Columbia were established by the United States Congress in 1801. [1] The Circuit Court of the District of Columbia (not to be confused with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which it later evolved into) was both a trial court of general jurisdiction and an appellate court, and it heard cases under both local and federal law. Congress also established justices of the peace and an orphans' court, which were combined in 1870 into a new local court called the Police Court. The Police Court had jurisdiction over misdemeanors (concurrently with the federal courts) as well as equity powers. [1] [2] In 1909, Congress converted the Police Court into the Municipal Court, which became a court of record with jury trials in 1921. [1] In 1963, Congress again converted the Municipal Court into the Court of General Sessions. Its jurisdiction was broader, although the federal courts retained concurrent jurisdiction in criminal cases. Under the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970, the Court of General Sessions was combined with the Juvenile Court (established in 1906) and the D.C. Tax Court (established as the local Board of Tax Appeals in 1937) to form the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, a trial court of general and mostly exclusive jurisdiction for D.C. [1]

The court consists of a chief judge and 61 associate judges. The court is assisted by the service of 24 magistrate judges and retired judges who have been recommended and approved as senior judges. When a vacancy occurs on the court, the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission invites applications. It sends three candidates' names to the President of the United States, who sends one nomination to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent. If the Senate confirms a judge, they serve for a 15-year term, which is renewable. The Superior Court and the D.C. Court of Appeals, known collectively as the D.C. Courts, comprise the judicial branch of D.C.'s local government. [3]

In criminal cases, the government is represented by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia or the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, depending on the nature and severity of the charges.

Organizational units

Active judges

As of October 1,2024:

TitleJudgeBornFirst term beganCurrent term endsBegan senior statusFirst appointed by
Chief Judge Milton C. Lee 196020102025— Obama
Associate Judge Neal E. Kravitz 1957October 21, 19982028— Clinton
Associate Judge Erik Christian 1960July 20, 20012031— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Maurice A. Ross 1961July 27, 20012031— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Lynn Leibovitz 1959September 21, 20012031— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Robert Rigsby 1960October 11, 20022032— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Craig Iscoe 1953January 5, 20042033— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Michael Ryan 1957January 16, 20042034— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Laura Cordero 1965September 2, 20052035— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Juliet J. McKenna 1970December 16, 20052035— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Heidi Pasichow 1955August 25, 20082038— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Anthony C. Epstein 1952September 8, 20082038— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Alfred S. Irving 1959December 3, 20082038— G.W. Bush
Associate Judge Marisa Demeo 1966May 10, 20102025— Obama
Associate Judge Todd E. Edelman 1968October 4, 20102025— Obama
Associate Judge Maribeth Raffinan 1970October 29, 20102025— Obama
Associate Judge Jennifer A. Di Toro 1967October 14, 20112026— Obama
Associate Judge Yvonne M. Williams 1972December 16, 20112026— Obama
Associate Judge John F. McCabe 1958February 24, 20122027— Obama
Associate Judge Danya Dayson 1972April 27, 20122027— Obama
Associate Judge Kimberley S. Knowles 1970November 9, 20122027— Obama
Associate Judge Michael Kenny O'Keefe 1963June 20, 20132028— Obama
Associate Judge Robert Okun 1960November 8, 20132028— Obama
Associate Judge Steven M. Wellner 1959February 19, 20162031— Obama
Associate Judge Robert A. Salerno 1961March 11, 20162031— Obama
Associate Judge Darlene M. Soltys 1965March 18, 20162031— Obama
Associate Judge Elizabeth Carroll Wingo 1970August 26, 20162031— Obama
Associate Judge Julie H. Becker 1974September 3, 20162031— Obama
Associate Judge Jonathan Pittman 1963April 4, 20182033— Trump
Associate Judge Kelly Higashi 1962October 26, 20182033— Trump
Associate Judge Carmen G. McLean 1976May 3, 20192034— Trump
Associate Judge Shana Frost Matini 1970August 20192034— Trump
Associate Judge James Crowell 1973August 20192034— Trump
Associate Judge Jason Park 1979August 20192034— Trump
Associate Judge Rainey R. Brandt 1966September 16, 20192034— Trump
Associate Judge Deborah J. Israel 1964November 20192034— Trump
Associate Judge Andrea L. Hertzfeld 1979November 20192034— Trump
Associate Judge D.W. Tunnage 1968February 25, 20222037— Biden
Associate Judge Sean C. Staples 1969February 25, 20222037— Biden
Associate Judge Kenia Seoane Lopez 1974February 25, 20222037— Biden
Associate Judge Ebony M. Scott 1978February 25, 20222037— Biden
Associate Judge Leslie Meek 1965January 17, 20232038— Biden
Associate Judge Errol Rajesh Arthur 1972January 17, 20232038— Biden
Associate Judge Veronica M. Sanchez 1974January 17, 20232038— Biden
Associate Judge Kendra D. Briggs 1974January 17, 20232038— Biden
Associate Judge Carl Ezekiel Ross 1977January 17, 20232038— Biden
Associate Judge Laura Crane 1981January 17, 20232038— Biden
Associate Judge Adrienne Jennings Noti 1974March 25, 20242039— Biden
Associate Judge Tanya Jones Bosier 1973June 21, 20242039— Biden
Associate Judge Judith E. Pipe 1980June 21, 20242039— Biden
Associate Judge Katherine E. Oler 1972July 29, 20242039— Biden
Associate Judge Danny Lam Nguyen 1979July 29, 20242039— Biden
Associate Judge Charles J. Willoughby Jr. 1978August 19, 20242039— Biden
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Senior Judge Frederick H. Weisberg 1944 [4] 1977—March 22, 2018 Carter
Senior Judge Henry F. Greene 1941 [5] May 1981—2004 Reagan
Senior Judge Robert I. Richter 1947 [6] 1984—October 2, 2014 Reagan
Senior Judge Robert S. Tignor 1944 [6] 1984—1999 Reagan
Senior Judge Herbert B. Dixon Jr. 1946 [7] 1985—April 28, 2015 Reagan
Senior Judge Harold L. Cushenberry Jr. 1950 [8] 1986—December 16, 2015 Reagan
Senior Judge Michael Rankin 19461986—August 31, 2019 Reagan
Senior Judge Cheryl M. Long 1949 [9] 1988—December 4, 2009 Reagan
Senior Judge Kaye K. Christian 1953 [10] 1990—December 4, 2010 G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge Patricia A. Wynn 1945 [10] 1990—2002 G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge Joan Zeldon 1938 [10] 1990—December 3, 2011 G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge Zinora Mitchell-Rankin 1956January 12, 1990—February 29, 2012 G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge Gregory Mize 1946 [10] March 7, 1990—March 12, 2002 G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge Lee F. Satterfield 19581992—February 1, 2017 G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge Russell F. Canan 1950 [11] August 8, 1993—February 3, 2018 Clinton
Senior Judge Zoe Bush 1954July 18, 1994—October 27, 2017 Clinton
Senior Judge Rhonda Reid Winston 1954 [12] July 18, 1994—September 30, 2016 Clinton
Senior Judge Judith Bartnoff 1949August 1, 1994—September 13, 2019 Clinton
Senior Judge Ronna Lee Beck 1947May 26, 1995—January 8, 2021 Clinton
Senior Judge Robert E. Morin 1953July 30, 1996—September 30, 2020 Clinton
Senior Judge John M. Campbell 1953November 11, 1997—2024 Clinton
Senior Judge Anita Josey-Herring 1960November 11, 1997—October 1, 2024 Clinton
Senior Judge Natalia Combs Greene 1954 [13] October 21, 1998—September 30, 2013 Clinton
Senior Judge Patricia A. Broderick 1949November 3, 1998—June 5, 2020 Clinton
Senior Judge Hiram E. Puig-Lugo 1961June 6, 1999—2023 Clinton
Senior Judge Thomas J. Motley 1954 [14] July 6, 2000—October 27, 2017 Clinton
Senior Judge Gerald Fisher 1950January 15, 2001—August 31, 2022 Clinton
Senior Judge Jeanette Clark 1948 [15] 2002—March 18, 2017 G.W. Bush
Senior Judge Gregory E. Jackson 1951 [16] 2005—July 21, 2017 G.W. Bush
Senior Judge Jennifer M. Anderson 1959October 27, 2006—March 22, 2024 G.W. Bush
Senior Judge Judith Anne Smith 1963October 17, 2010—2022 Obama
Senior Judge Peter A. Krauthamer 1957April 20, 2012—2024 Obama

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
— Carol Dalton RetirementJanuary 30, 2020 [17] Sherri Beatty-Arthur November 27, 2023
— Wendell P. Gardner March 27, 2020 [17] John C. Truong March 21, 2024
— Robert E. Morin September 30, 2020 [18] Rahkel Bouchet
— William W. Nooter February 25, 2023 [19] Kenechukwu Onyemaechi Okocha June 8, 2023
— Peter A. Krauthamer June 30, 2023 [20] Erin C. Johnston November 27, 2023
— Hiram E. Puig-Lugo July 28, 2023 [20] Ray D. McKenzie
— Jennifer M. Anderson March 22, 2024 [21] James Graham Lake July 31, 2024
— Rupa Ranga Puttagunta ResignationApril 12, 2024 [22] Nicholas George Miranda
— Anita Josey-Herring RetirementOctober 1, 2024 [23] ––
— Anthony C. Epstein January 11, 2025 [24] ––

Related Research Articles

Stephen Howard Glickman is a senior judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the highest appellate court for the District of Columbia. After graduating from law school, he worked as a law clerk on the Supreme Court of Connecticut and a seminar instructor at Yale University before moving to Washington, D.C., where he worked at the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. From 1980 until 1999, he worked at the law firm Zuckerman Spaeder, serving as managing partner from 1991 to 1998. He retired from the active service on June 25, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter A. Krauthamer</span> American judge

Peter Arno Krauthamer is an American jurist. He is a senior judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Jennifer Mary Anderson is an Irish-American jurist who is a senior associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Fern Flanagan Saddler is a former associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Gerald I. Fisher is a senior judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He served an associate judge between 2001 and 2022.

Michael L. Rankin is a senior judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Zinora M. Mitchell-Rankin is a senior judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Judith Bartnoff is a senior associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Ronna Lee Beck is an American attorney and jurist serving as a senior associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William M. Jackson (judge)</span> American judge

William M. Jackson is a former associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Wendell P. Gardner, Jr. is a former associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

John M. Campbell is a senior judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Anita Marie Josey-Herring is a senior judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Patricia A. Broderick is an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Hiram E. Puig-Lugo is a senior judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José M. López (judge)</span> American judge

José M. López is a former associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veronica M. Sanchez</span> American judge

Veronica M. Sanchez is an American lawyer who has served as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia since 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine E. Oler</span> American judge (born 1972)

Katherine Ellsworth Oler is an American lawyer who has served as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia since 2024. She previously served as a court-appointed special master for the United States Court of Federal Claims from 2017 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith E. Pipe</span> Washington D.C. judge (born 1980)

Judith Emily Pipe is an American lawyer who has served as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. She previously served as a magistrate judge of the same court from 2020 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles J. Willoughby Jr.</span> American judge (born 1978)

Charles James Willoughby Jr. is an American lawyer who is serving as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Goodbread, Ronald A. (September 1, 2009). "A Brief Topical History of Local and Federal Trial and Appellate Courts in the District of Columbia". Daily Washington Law Reporter. p. 1847.
  2. ↑ Cave v. Rudolph,53App.D.C.12, 16(C.A.D.C.1923).
  3. ↑ "Judicial Selection in the States: District of Columbia". American Judicature Society. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  4. ↑ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (1977). Nominations to the District of Columbia Superior Court: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, First Session ... December 6, 1977. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  5. ↑ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (1981). Nomination of Henry F. Greene: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-seventh Congress, First Session, on Nomination of Henry F. Greene, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, April 2, 1981. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  6. 1 2 Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (1984). Nominations for Superior Court of the District of Columbia: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-eighth Congress, Second Session, on the Nominations of Emmet G. Sullivan, Colleen C. Kollar-Kotelly, Rufus G. King III, Susan R. Holmes, Noel A. Kramer, Robert I. Richter, and Robert S. Tignor, to be Associate Judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, September 11, 1984. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  7. ↑ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (April 4, 1985). Nomination of Herbert Blalock Dixon, Jr: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, First Session on Nomination of Herbert Blalock Dixon, Jr., to be Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, April 4, 1985. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 2.
  8. ↑ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (1986). Nominations of Harold L. Cushenberry, Jr., and Michael L. Rankin: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-ninth Congress, First Session ... to be Associate Judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, December 9, 1985. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  9. ↑ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (February 26, 1988). Nominations of Frank Ernest Schwelb and Cheryl Marie Long: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundredth Congress, Second Session, on Nominations of Frank Ernest Schwelb to be Associate Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Cheryl Marie Long to be Associate Judge, District of Columbia Superior Court, February 26, 1988. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 25.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (July 20, 1990). Nominations for Superior Court of the District of Columbia: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, Second Session, on Nominations of Mary Ellen Abrecht, Kaye K. Christian, Frederick D. Dorsey, Ellen Segal Huvelle, Jose M. Lopez, Joan Z. McAvoy, Gregory E. Mize, Patricia Q. Wynn, John Henry Bayly, Jr., Linda Turner Hamilton, and Stephen G. Milliken, to be Associate Judges ... U.S. Government Printing Office.
  11. ↑ States, United; Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (August 3, 1993). Nomination of Russell Frank Canan: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, First Session on Nomination of Russell Frank Canan, to be Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, August 3, 1993. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 11. ISBN   978-0-16-044181-3.
  12. ↑ States, United; Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (June 29, 1994). Nominations of Judith Bartnoff, Zoe Alice Bush, and Rhonda Reid Winston: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, Second Session, on Nominations of Judith Bartnoff, Zoe Alice Bush, and Rhonda Reid Winston to be Associate Judges, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, June 29, 1994. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 12. ISBN   978-0-16-046180-4.
  13. ↑ States, United; Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (September 3, 1998). Nominations of Natalia M. Combs Greene, Patricia A. Broderick, and Neal E. Kravitz: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, September 3, 1998, Nominations of ... to be Associate Judges, D.C. Superior Court, Washington, DC. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 18. ISBN   978-0-16-057684-3.
  14. ↑ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (2000). Nominations of Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, Thomas Motley, and John Mott: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Second Session, on Nominations of Anne Blackburne-Rigsby, Thomas Motley, and John Mott, to be Associate Judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, May 10, 2000. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 36.
  15. ↑ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (March 5, 2002). Nomination of Jeanette J. Clark: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Second Session on the Nomination of Jeanette J. Clark to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, March 5, 2002. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 8. ISBN   978-0-16-068568-2.
  16. ↑ States, United; Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental (October 5, 2004). Nomination of Gregory Eugene Jackson: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, on the Nomination of Gregory Eugene Jackson, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, October 5, 2004. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 7. ISBN   978-0-16-074287-3.
  17. 1 2 "Notice of Judicial Vacancies on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. November 1, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Notice of Judicial Vacancies on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. October 31, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
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