District of Columbia Court of Appeals

District of Columbia Court of Appeals

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals is located in the former D.C. City Hall, a National Historic Landmark.
Established 1970
Location Washington, DC at District of Columbia City Hall building at Judiciary Square
Composition method appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate
Authorized by derived from the United States Congress
Judge term length 15 years
Chief Judge
Currently

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals is the highest court of the District of Columbia. Established in 1970, it is equivalent to a state supreme court, except that its authority is derived from the United States Congress rather than from the inherent sovereignty of the states. The court is located in the former District of Columbia City Hall building at Judiciary Square. The D.C. Court of Appeals should not be confused with the District's federal appellate court, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Powers

As the court of last resort for the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals is authorized to review all final orders, judgments, and specified interlocutory orders of the associate judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The court also has jurisdiction to review decisions of administrative agencies, boards, and commissions of the District government, as well as to answer questions of law presented by the Supreme Court of the United States, a United States court of appeals, or the highest appellate court of any state. As authorized by Congress, the court reviews proposed rules of the trial court and develops its own rules for proceedings.

Cases before the court are determined by randomly selected three-judge divisions, unless a hearing or rehearing before the court sitting en banc (with all judges present) is ordered. A hearing or rehearing before the court sitting en banc may be ordered by a majority of the judges in regular active service, generally only when consideration by the full court is necessary to maintain uniformity of its decisions, or when the case involves a question of exceptional importance. The en banc court consists of the nine judges of the court in regular active service, except that a retired judge may sit to rehear a case or controversy if he or she heard the original hearing. The Chief Judge may designate and assign temporarily one or more judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to serve on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals when required.

Clinton taking oath as Secretary of State
District of Columbia Court of Appeals Associate Judge Kathryn Oberly observes as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is sworn to office, while Bill Clinton holds the Bible.

Members of the court are empowered to adjudicate the oath of office ceremony for the executive cabinet of the President.

In the exercise of its inherent power over members of the legal profession, the court established the District of Columbia Bar and has the power to approve the rules governing attorney disciplinary proceedings. The court also reviews the rules of professional conduct and has established rules governing the admission of members of the District of Columbia Bar and the resolution of complaints concerning the unauthorized practice of law in the District of Columbia.

Judges

The court consists of a chief judge and eight associate judges. The court is assisted by the service of retired judges who have been recommended and approved as senior judges. Despite being the District's local appellate court, judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for 15-year terms.[1]

Active Judges

Judge First term began Current term ends Chief
Eric T. Washington July 1, 1999 June 30, 2029 August 6, 2005[2] -
Stephen H. Glickman 1999[3] 2029 ——
John R. Fisher[4] January 6, 2006[5] 2021 ——
Anna Blackburne-Rigsby[6] November 17, 2006[7] 2021 ——
Phyllis D. Thompson 2006[8] 2021 ——
Corinne A. Beckwith 2011[9] 2026 ——
Catharine F. Easterly[10] February 10, 2012[11] 2026 ——
Roy W. McLeese III[12] September 21, 2012[13] 2027 ——
vacant —— —— ——

There has been a vacant seat since the retirement of Judge Kathryn A. Oberly, effective November 1, 2013.[14] In February 2014, President Obama nominated Todd Kim to fill this vacancy, but his nomination never received a final vote in the Senate.[15] On April 30, 2015, President Obama re-nominated Kim to the position.[16]

Senior Judges

The senior judges are Inez Smith Reid, Vanessa Ruiz, Theodore R. Newman, William C. Pryor, James A. Belson, Michael W. Farrell, Warren R. King, John M. Steadman, John M. Ferren, John A. Terry, Frank E. Schwelb and Frank Q. Nebeker.[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Judicial Selection in the States: District of Columbia". American Judicature Society. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
  2. ↑ Reynolds, Julie (2005-10-01). "A Conversation with Eric T. Washington". Washington Lawyer. Washington, DC. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ Official bio of Judge Glickman
  4. ↑ Official bio of Judge Fisher
  5. ↑ John Fisher to Be Sworn In as Associate Judge on D.C. Court of Appeals This Friday
  6. ↑ Official bio of Judge Blackburne-Rigsby
  7. ↑ Former Superior Court Judge to become Judge on D.C. Court of Appeals
  8. ↑ Official bio of Judge Thompson
  9. ↑ Official bio of Judge Beckwith
  10. ↑ Official bio of Judge Easterly
  11. ↑ Public Defender to be Sworn in as Court of Appeals Judge
  12. ↑ Official bio of Judge McLeese
  13. ↑ Former US Attorney’s Office Appellate Division Chief to be Sworn in as Court of Appeals Judge
  14. ↑ Notice of Judicial Vacancy Created by the Retirement of the Honorable Kathryn A. Oberly
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate
  17. ↑

External links


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