Superior Court of the District of Columbia explained

Court Name:	Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Established:	1970
Location:	H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse, Judiciary Square, Washington, D.C.
Appealsto:	District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Positions:	62 judges (including chief judge)
Chiefjudgetitle:	Chief Judge
Chiefjudgename:	Anita Josey-Herring
Termstart:	October 1, 2020
Chiefjudgetitle2:	U.S. Marshal
Chiefjudgename2:	Robert Anthony Dixon
Termstart2:	December 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).

History

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

Civil Division – Civil actions and actions in equity; handles temporary restraining orders other than those involving domestic violence.
- Civil Actions Branch – Amount in controversy above $10,000 or cases requesting equitable relief such as declarative judgments, injunctive relief, writs of attachment
- Landlord and Tenant Branch – processes cases filed for possession of real property or violations of lease agreements. The Landlord-Tenant Resource Center can assist those who do not have an attorney. The Center is located in Room 115 of Court Building B (510 Fourth Street, NW) and is open weekdays, from 9:15 to noon.
- Small Claims and Conciliation Branch – Amount in controversy $10,000 and below. There is a Small Claims Resource Center to assist those without an attorney. It is located in Court Building B, Room 102, and is open from 9:15 to noon on Thursdays.
- Housing Conditions Calendar handles cases in which landlords are alleged to have not kept their rental property compliant with the D.C. Housing Code.
Criminal Division – This division handles cases including misdemeanor, felony, and serious traffic offenses. The division also has Community Courts, which take a problem-solving approach to misdemeanor crimes, a drug court, and a mental health court.
Family Court Operations Division – Family court
- Family Court Central Intake Center (CIC) – all cases are filed here.
- Domestic Relations Branch – divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody, habeas corpus, and adoption
- Juvenile and Neglect Branch – juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect.
- Paternity and Child Support Branch – establishment of paternity, child support, and wage withholding
- Marriage Bureau – marriage licenses/records; applications to perform marriage ceremonies in the District of Columbia by authorized ministers and others
- Mental Health and Habilitation Branch – "hospitalization and continued treatment of persons adjudicated as mentally retarded or in need of mental health services"
- Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect Branch is responsible for determining party eligibility for court-appointed counsel in child abuse and neglect proceedings and processes the appointment of attorneys for parties in these cases.
- Family Court Self Help Center – "provides legal information and assistance to self-represented parties in Family Court Cases."
- Family Treatment Court –"court-supervised, voluntary, comprehensive residential substance abuse treatment program for mothers/female caretakers whose children are the subject of a child neglect case."
Domestic Violence Division – Domestic violence – Handles cases of violence by a family member or romantic partner, a person who shares living quarters, with whom one has a child in common, or between a former and current romantic partner. There are two intake centers: 1) the fourth floor of the Moultrie Courthouse, 2) the Medical Center at 1328 Southern Avenue, Suite 311. At either location, those seeking a protection order can meet with police/prosecutor, advocate, file a petition for a stay-away order and/or custody, seek the assistance of the Crime Victims Compensation Program, and talk with an advocate to develop a safety plan.
Probate Division/Office of the Register of Wills – handles matters relating to estates of those who have died, guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults, and other such matters.
- Probate Resource Center – those without an attorney can consult volunteer attorneys about probate matters at the Probate Resource Center in Room 316 of Court Building A (515 Fifth Street, NW) 8:30 to 3:30 Monday through Friday.
Tax Division – Appeals and petitions for review of assessments made by the District of Columbia, as well as all proceedings brought by the District of Columbia for the imposition of criminal penalties according to the provisions of the District of Columbia Code
Family Court Social Services Division – This division supervises juveniles who are awaiting trial on juvenile charges or who are on probation after pleading or being found involved in a crime.
Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division – Mediation and alternative dispute resolution services for those with court cases, as well as a Community Information Referral Program for disputes that have not yet resulted in a lawsuit being filed.
Special Operations Division
- Jurors Office
- Child Care Center
- Judge-in-Chambers
- Office of Court Interpreting Services

Active judges

Title	Judge	Born	First term began	Current term ends	Began senior status	First appointed by
Chief Judge		align=center	1960	align=center		align=center	2027	align=center	—	align=center	Clinton
Associate Judge		align=center	1957	align=center		align=center	2028	align=center	—	align=center	Clinton
Associate Judge		align=center	1960	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1961	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1959	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1960	align=center		align=center	2032	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1953	align=center		align=center	2033	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1957	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1965	align=center		align=center	2035	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1970	align=center		align=center	2035	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1955	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1952	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1959	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	G.W. Bush
Associate Judge		align=center	1960	align=center		align=center	2025	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1966	align=center		align=center	2025	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1968	align=center		align=center	2025	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1970	align=center		align=center	2025	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1967	align=center		align=center	2026	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1972	align=center		align=center	2026	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1958	align=center		align=center	2027	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1972	align=center		align=center	2027	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1970	align=center		align=center	2027	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1963	align=center		align=center	2028	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1960	align=center		align=center	2028	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1959	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1961	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1965	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1970	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1974	align=center		align=center	2031	align=center	—	align=center	Obama
Associate Judge		align=center	1963	align=center		align=center	2033	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1962	align=center		align=center	2033	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1976	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1970	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1973	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1979	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1966	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1964	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1979	align=center		align=center	2034	align=center	—	align=center	Trump
Associate Judge		align=center	1968	align=center		align=center	2037	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1969	align=center		align=center	2037	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1974	align=center		align=center	2037	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1978	align=center		align=center	2037	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1965	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1972	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1974	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1974	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1977	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1981	align=center		align=center	2038	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1974	align=center		align=center	2039	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1973	align=center		align=center	2039	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1980	align=center		align=center	2039	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1972	align=center		align=center	2039	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1979	align=center		align=center	2039	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge		align=center	1978	align=center		align=center	2039	align=center	—	align=center	Biden
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Associate Judge	seat vacant	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—	align=center	—
Senior Judge		align=center	1944^[4]	align=center	1977	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Carter
Senior Judge		align=center	1941^[5]	align=center		align=center	—	align=center	2004	align=center	Reagan
Senior Judge		align=center	1947^[6]	align=center	1984	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Reagan
Senior Judge		align=center	1944	align=center	1984	align=center	—	align=center	1999	align=center	Reagan
Senior Judge		align=center	1946^[7]	align=center	1985	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Reagan
Senior Judge		align=center	1950^[8]	align=center	1986	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Reagan
Senior Judge		align=center	1946	align=center	1986	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Reagan
Senior Judge		align=center	1949^[9]	align=center	1988	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Reagan
Senior Judge		align=center	1953^[10]	align=center	1990	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1945	align=center	1990	align=center	—	align=center	2002	align=center	G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1938	align=center	1990	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1956	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1946	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1958	align=center	1992	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.H.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1950^[11]	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1954	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1954^[12]	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1949	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1947	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1953	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1953	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1950^[13]	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1954^[14]	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1949	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1961	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1954^[15]	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1950	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Clinton
Senior Judge		align=center	1948^[16]	align=center	2002	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1951^[17]	align=center	2005	align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1959	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	G.W. Bush
Senior Judge		align=center	1963	align=center		align=center	—	align=center		align=center	Obama

Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat	Seat last held by	Vacancy reason	Date of vacancy	Nominee	Date of nomination
—	Carol Dalton	Retirement	January 30, 2020^[18]	Sherri Beatty-Arthur	November 27, 2023
—	Wendell P. Gardner		March 27, 2020	John C. Truong	March 21, 2024
—	Robert E. Morin		September 30, 2020^[19]	Rahkel Bouchet	March 21, 2024
—	William W. Nooter		February 25, 2023^[20]	Kenechukwu Onyemaechi Okocha	June 8, 2023
—			June 30, 2023^[21]	Erin C. Johnston	November 27, 2023
—			July 28, 2023	Ray D. McKenzie	November 27, 2023
—			March 22, 2024^[22]	James Graham Lake	July 31, 2024
—		Resignation	April 12, 2024^[23]	Nicholas George Miranda	July 31, 2024
—		Retirement	October 1, 2024^[24]	align=center		align=center

External links

DC Courts' official website

Notes and References

News: A Brief Topical History of Local and Federal Trial and Appellate Courts in the District of Columbia . Ronald A. . Goodbread . Daily Washington Law Reporter . 1847 . September 1, 2009.
Cave v. Rudolph . 53 . App.D.C. . 12 . 16 . C.A.D.C. . 1923.
Web site: Judicial Selection in the States: District of Columbia. American Judicature Society. April 10, 2012.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . 1977 . U.S. Government Printing Office . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . 1981 . U.S. Government Printing Office . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . 1984 . U.S. Government Printing Office . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . April 4, 1985 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 2 . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . 1986 . U.S. Government Printing Office . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . February 26, 1988 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 25 . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 .... . July 20, 1990 . U.S. Government Printing Office . en.
Book: States . United . 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 . Affairs . United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . August 3, 1993 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 978-0-16-044181-3 . 11 . en.
Book: States . United . 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 . Affairs . United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . June 29, 1994 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 978-0-16-046180-4 . 12 . en.
Book: Staff . U. S. Government Printing Office . Nomination of Melvin Randolph Wright: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, April 1, 1998, Nomination of Melvin Randolph Wright to be Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . Affairs . United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . April 1, 1998 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 978-0-16-057334-7 . 5 . en.
Book: States . United . 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. . Affairs . United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . September 3, 1998 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 978-0-16-057684-3 . 18 . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . 2000 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 36 . en.
Book: Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . 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 . March 5, 2002 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 978-0-16-068568-2 . 8 . en.
Book: States . United . 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 . Affairs . United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental . October 5, 2004 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 978-0-16-074287-3 . 7 . en.
Web site: Notice of Judicial Vacancies on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . November 3, 2021 . jnc.dc.gov.
Web site: Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . November 3, 2021 . jnc.dc.gov.
Web site: November 1, 2022 . Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . January 18, 2023 . jnc.dc.gov.
Web site: April 10, 2023 . Notice of Judicial Vacancies on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . April 16, 2023 . jnc.dc.gov.
Web site: February 5, 2024 . Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . February 14, 2024 . jnc.dc.gov.
Web site: February 27, 2024 . Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . March 5, 2024 . jnc.dc.gov.
Web site: July 9, 2024 . Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . July 10, 2024 . jnc.dc.gov.