Tanya M. Jones Bosier, Judith Pipe Sworn in as Associate Judges
June 21, 2024
On June 21 D.C. Superior Court added two more judges to its roster, welcoming Tanya Monique Jones Bosier and Judith Pipe as its newest associate judges. Jones Bosier and Pipe, both former magistrate judges of the court, were sworn in by Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring.
The two judges’ confirmation came on the heels of appeals for Congress to address the lingering judicial vacancy crisis at the D.C. Courts that has resulted in huge case backlogs, extended wait times for cases to be heard, and judicial burnout. With Jones Bosier’s and Pipe’s appointment, D.C. Superior Court is still short 11 judges.
Judge Jones Bosier was first appointed to Superior Court as magistrate judge in 2017 and presided in its Civil, Domestic Violence, and Probate Divisions and in Family Court. Before joining the bench, Jones Bosier was an assistant general counsel for the D.C. Courts, handling complex employee relations matters.
Prior to her employment with the D.C. Courts, Jones Bosier served in the D.C. Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in various capacities, including as assistant general counsel, assistant attorney general, attorney advisor, and section chief. It was at OAG that Jones Bosier gained extensive experience in administrative, child abuse and neglect, child support, domestic relations, domestic violence, public benefits, and procurement law matters, as well as in intervention proceedings.
As magistrate judge, Jones Bosier was instrumental in the growth of the Family Court’s Fathering Court initiative and the formation of its name change calendar.
“I’ve been fortunate to preside over each of the calendars that the magistrate judges are assigned to,” said Jones Bosier. She credited her clerkship with Superior Court Associate Judge Zoe Bush as another valuable opportunity that paved her way to the bench. “That was a wonderful experience, to sit alongside her to really see how the judicial process works, how the judge thinks, and all of the skills that are really needed for you to be a great jurist. I really thank her very much for extending that opportunity to me.”
Judge Pipe was appointed magistrate judge in 2020, serving in Superior Court’s Domestic Violence and Criminal Divisions, where she presided over criminal and civil matters. During a period of restructuring, Pipe served on the court’s Drug Court committee and helped redesign and transform it into a nationally recognized program.
Before her appointment to the bench, Pipe was an attorney in the Trial Division of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, representing hundreds of individuals charged with offenses ranging from misdemeanors to homicides, supervising and training multiple attorneys, and conducting various trainings for the defense community.
“It was definitely a journey to get here. And I have been serving through all that journey on the court as a magistrate judge,” Pipe said, thanking Chief Judge Josey-Herring, some senior judges, and her colleagues and family for their support. “I made it through. And I’m so excited that I’m here today.”
Pipe also talked about how she intends to serve as associate judge. “I want [the public] to know when they come into my courtroom [that] they are going to be heard, that they’re going be respected, and that I will apply the law fairly to every person [who] comes before me. I’m here to serve the community. That is my goal,” she said.
