May 03, 2023
Superior Court Amends Rule of Civil Procedure 7.1
On May 3 the Superior Court of the District of Columbia issued Promulgation Order 23-01.
May 02, 2023
Conference Panel Reiterates Need to Prioritize Access to Justice
At a crucial moment when the need for affordable legal services continues to rise, a panel of the District of Columbia’s top advocates of legal services met to discuss the importance, the challenges, and the future of access to justice in Washington, D.C.
May 02, 2023
District’s Current and Former AGs Weigh the ‘Good and Bad’ of Limited Home Rule
Six current and former District of Columbia attorneys general and corporation counsel came together for a lively conversation about home rule at the Judicial & Bar Conference on April 28. Moderated by longtime D.C. political reporter Tom Sherwood, the panelists discussed “the good, the bad, and the funny” of serving as chief legal officer of the District government.
May 01, 2023
At Judicial & Bar Conference, Advocates Paint Uncertain Future of Criminal Code Reform Efforts
Approximately 600 members of the D.C. legal community gathered at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on April 28 for the biennial Judicial & Bar Conference, featuring D.C. Courts judges, former District mayors and attorneys general, members of the D.C. Council, and Bar leaders as speakers.
April 28, 2023
New ABA Survey Shows Declining Civility, Increased Support for Compromise
An overwhelming majority of U.S. residents believe civility is worse than it was 10 years ago, blaming social media and general media for the decline, according to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) fifth annual Survey of Civic Literacy released on April 27 in advance of Law Day, May 1.
April 24, 2023
D.C. Bar Announces 2023 Annual Award Winners
The District of Columbia Bar congratulates the winners of its 2023 Annual Awards honoring individuals and organizations whose outstanding work and exceptional projects benefited Bar membership, enriched the legal community, and expanded access to justice. The following awardees made important contributions to the advancement of public policy and provided critical assistance for the District’s vulnerable populations.
April 19, 2023
ArentFox Schiff’s Jon Bouker Wins 2023 Brennan Award for Access to Justice Work
The D.C. Bar has named Jon S. Bouker, a partner and government relations practice co-leader at ArentFox Schiff LLP, as the recipient of its 2023 William J. Brennan Jr. Award for his tireless advocacy for access to justice, especially for the District’s most vulnerable population. Bouker will be honored at the Bar’s annual Celebration of Leadership on June 22.
April 19, 2023
Environmental Lawyer Patricia A. McKenna Wins 2023 Rosenberg Award
The D.C. Bar has selected Patricia A. McKenna, assistant section chief with the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), as the 2023 recipient of its Beatrice Rosenberg Award for Excellence in Government Service. The Bar bestows this honor on a member each year in acknowledgement of career accomplishments that exemplify the highest order of public service. McKenna will be recognized at the Bar’s Celebration of Leadership on June 22.
April 18, 2023
Comment on Qualifications of Superior Court Judge Alfred S. Irving Jr.
The D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure is inviting comment on the qualifications and fitness of Judge Alfred S. Irving Jr., who is seeking reappointment to another 15-year term as associate judge on D.C. Superior Court. Irvings’s current term expires on December 1, 2023.
April 18, 2023
D.C. Legal Community Comes Out in Force to Support Access to Justice Initiative
Legal services providers, advocates, and other community members rallied in support of Washington D.C.’s Access to Justice Initiative at a D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety hearing April 13, urging the District’s legislative body to preserve funding at fiscal year 2023 levels.
