News

April 23, 2021

Judicial & Bar Conference Opens With Chief Judges’ Report on COVID-19 Impacts on D.C. Courts

By John Murph

The coronavirus pandemic disrupted nearly every sector in society in 2020, including the judiciary, forcing courts to innovate and transition some of their proceedings and services online to keep the wheels of justice turning during the crisis. The D.C. Courts were no exception, and at yesterday’s 2021 Judicial & Bar Conference, the chief judges reported that the courts not only weathered the abrupt changes but also came out strong.

April 23, 2021

Member Spotlight: Jeffrey Schwaber, Advocate for the Homeless, Runs 61 Miles and Raises $119K

By Jeremy Conrad

Jeffrey M. Schwaber could have easily spent his 60th birthday enjoying a piece of cake and reflecting on his accomplishments. Instead, over a 10-day period ending March 3, he ran a total of 61 sub-9-minute miles to raise more than $119,000 for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

April 22, 2021

D.C. Bar Announces 2021 Annual Award Winners

By Jeremy Conrad

The District of Columbia Bar congratulates the winners of its 2021 Annual Awards honoring the exemplary efforts of those individuals and organizations that helped ensure the advancement of the profession and improvement of the legal community.

April 16, 2021

Racine Calls for Better Data Reporting on Hate Crimes Nationwide

By William Roberts

District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine is joining with 35 other state attorneys general calling for the passage of a new federal hate crimes law, saying hate crimes in the United States “is vast” and “increasing in dangerous ways.”

April 15, 2021

ABA Panel Discusses Legal, Humanitarian Needs of Child Migrants

By John Murph

Nearly 19,000 unaccompanied minors crossed the southern U.S. border in March 2021, the highest ever monthly record. Meredith Linsky, director of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration, attributed the unprecedented surge to gang violence, poverty, natural disasters, sexual- and gender-based violence, and the breakdown of civil society throughout Central America.

April 15, 2021

Indian Claims Commission Act at 75: A Look Back and a Look Forward

By Rich Blaustein

On April 13 the D.C. Bar Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Community hosted a panel discussion marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Claims Commission Act and Native Americans’ redress for damages by the United States.

April 13, 2021

Civil Rights Lawyers Discuss Racial Equity in Criminal Law

By Jeremy Conrad

On April 12 the D.C. Bar Public Interest and Courts Community, in partnership with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, presented the program “Racial Equity in the Criminal Law Context,” which focused on policing and social justice issues.

April 13, 2021

D.C. Circuit Court Seeks Committee Candidates

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is seeking to fill vacancies on three committees. Members of these committees will serve a three-year term starting on July 1, 2021. Applications are due May 10.

April 12, 2021

Superior Court Issues Order Regarding Juvenile Data on Gun-Related Offenses

On April 9 the Superior Court of the District of Columbia issued Administrative Order 21-04 authorizing the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to provide the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (ODME) with identifiable information on juveniles arrested for carjacking and gun-related offenses from January 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021.

April 09, 2021

Mary Catherine Malin and George Valentine Named Rosenberg Award Recipients

By John Murph

The D.C. Bar is honoring Mary Catherine Malin of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Legal Adviser and the late George Valentine of the D.C. Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel with the 2021 Beatrice Rosenberg Award for Excellence in Government Service.