Superior Court of the District of Columbia
The Superior Court of the District of Columbia, commonly referred to as DC Superior Court, is the trial court for the District of Columbia. It hears cases involving criminal and civil law, as well as family court, landlord and tenant, probate, tax, and driving violations. All appeals of Superior Court decisions go to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
History
The first judicial systems in the new District of Columbia were established by the United States Congress in 1801. The Circuit Court of the District of Columbia 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 as well as equity powers. In 1909, Congress converted the Police Court into the Municipal Court, which became a court of record with jury trials in 1921. In 1963, Congress again converted the Municipal Court into the Court of General Sessions. Its jurisdiction was broader, although in criminal cases the federal courts retained concurrent jurisdiction. Under the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970, the Court of General Sessions was combined with the Juvenile Court and the D.C. Tax Court to form the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, a trial court of general and mostly exclusive jurisdiction for D.C.The Court consists of a chief judge and 61 associate judges. The Court is assisted by the service of 24 magistrate judges, as well as 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 and 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, he or she serves 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. local government.
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 and is open weekdays, 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 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 - 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 the determination of 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, 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 stayaway order and/or custody, seek 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 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 pursuant 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 cases in court, 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 | First term began | Current term ends | Began senior status | First appointed by |
Chief Judge | Robert E. Morin | 2026 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | José M. López | 2020 | — | George H. W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Wendell P. Gardner Jr. | 2021 | — | George H. W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | William M. Jackson | 2022 | — | George H. W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Ronna Lee Beck | 2025 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | Anita Josey-Herring | 2027 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | John M. Campbell | 2027 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | Patricia A. Broderick | 2028 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | Neal E. Kravitz | 2028 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | Hiram E. Puig-Lugo | 2029 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | John Ramsey Johnson | 2030 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | Gerald I. Fisher | 2031 | — | Bill Clinton | |
Associate Judge | Erik P. Christian | 2031 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Maurice A. Ross | 2031 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Lynn Leibovitz | 2031 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Robert Rigsby | 2032 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Fern Flanagan Saddler | 2033 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Craig Iscoe | 2033 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | J. Michael Ryan | 2034 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Laura Cordero | 2020 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Juliet J. McKenna | 2020 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Jennifer M. Anderson | 2021 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Heidi Pasichow | 2023 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Anthony C. Epstein | 2023 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Alfred S. Irving Jr. | 2023 | — | George W. Bush | |
Associate Judge | Florence Y. Pan | 2024 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Milton C. Lee Jr. | 2025 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Marisa Demeo | 2025 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Todd E. Edelman | 2025 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Judith Smith | 2025 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Maribeth Raffinan | 2025 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Jennifer A. Di Toro | 2026 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Yvonne M. Williams | 2026 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | John F. McCabe | 2027 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Peter A. Krauthamer | 2027 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Danya Dayson | 2027 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Kimberley S. Knowles | 2027 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Michael Kenny O'Keefe | 2028 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Robert Okun | 2028 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | William W. Nooter | 2030 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Steven M. Wellner | 2031 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Robert A. Salerno | 2031 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Darlene M. Soltys | 2031 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Steven N. Berk | 2031 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Elizabeth Carroll Wingo | 2031 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Julie H. Becker | 2031 | — | Barack Obama | |
Associate Judge | Jonathan Pittman | 2033 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | Kelly Higashi | 2033 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | Carmen Guerricagoitia McLean | 2034 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | James Crowell | 2034 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | Shana Frost Matini | 2034 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | Jason Park | 2034 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | Rainey R. Brandt | 2034 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | Andrea L. Hertzfeld | 2034 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | Deborah J. Israel | 2034 | — | Donald Trump | |
Associate Judge | seat vacant | — | — | — | — |
Associate Judge | seat vacant | — | — | — | — |
Associate Judge | seat vacant | — | — | — | — |
Associate Judge | seat vacant | — | — | — | — |
Associate Judge | seat vacant | — | — | — | — |
Associate Judge | seat vacant | — | — | — | — |
Senior Judge | Frederick H. Weisberg | 1977 | — | — | Jimmy Carter |
Senior Judge | Truman A. Morrison III | 1979 | — | 1999 | Jimmy Carter |
Senior Judge | Peter H. Wolf | — | 1994 | Jimmy Carter | |
Senior Judge | Henry F. Greene | — | 2004 | Ronald Reagan | |
Senior Judge | Ronald P. Wertheim | — | 1992 | Ronald Reagan | |
Senior Judge | Nan R. Shuker | 1983 | — | 2004 | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Geoffrey M. Alprin | — | February 1, 2010 | Ronald Reagan | |
Senior Judge | Robert I. Richter | 1984 | — | October 2, 2014 | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Robert S. Tignor | 1984 | — | — | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Herbert B. Dixon Jr. | 1985 | — | April 28, 2015 | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Richard A. Levie | 1985 | — | 2000 | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Curtis Von Kann | 1985 | — | — | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Harold L. Cushenberry Jr. | 1986 | — | December 16, 2015 | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Michael L. Rankin | 1986 | — | — | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | Cheryl M. Long | 1988 | — | December 2009 | Ronald Reagan |
Senior Judge | John H. Bayly Jr. | 1990 | — | April 22, 2011 | George H. W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Kaye K. Christian | 1990 | — | December 2010 | George H. W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Patricia A. Wynn | 1990 | — | 2002 | George H. W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Joan Zeldon | 1990 | — | 2012 | George H. W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Zinora Mitchell-Rankin | — | February 29, 2012 | George H. W. Bush | |
Senior Judge | Gregory E. Mize | — | March 12, 2002 | George H. W. Bush | |
Senior Judge | Linda D. Turner | — | December 5, 2008 | George H. W. Bush | |
Senior Judge | Ann O'Regan Keary | 1992 | — | August 2015 | George H. W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Lee F. Satterfield | 1992 | — | February 1, 2017 | George H. W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Russell F. Canan | — | — | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | Zoe Bush | — | — | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | Rhonda Reid Winston | — | September 30, 2016 | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | Judith Bartnoff | – | 2019 | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | Melvin R. Wright | — | — | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | Natalia Combs Greene | — | September 30, 2013 | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | Thomas J. Motley | — | March 2018 | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | John McAdam Mott | — | 2018 | Bill Clinton | |
Senior Judge | Jeanette Clark | 2002 | — | 2017 | George W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Judith Nan Macaluso | 2003 | — | 2016 | George W. Bush |
Senior Judge | Gregory E. Jackson | 2005 | — | 2017 | George W. Bush |
Vacancies and pending nominations
Seat | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
— | Lee F. Satterfield | Term expired | February 1, 2017 | Elizabeth Shapiro | May 23, 2019 |
— | John Ramsey Johnson | Term expired | Rahkel Bouchet | September 9, 2019 | |
— | Michael Rankin | Term expired | 2020 | Mark Robbins | November 19, 2019 |
— | Judith Bartnoff | Term expired | August 1, 2019 | Carl Ezekiel Ross | November 19, 2019 |
— | Carol Dalton | Term expired | Danny Lam Nguyen | May 14, 2020 | |
— | Wendell P. Gardner | Term expired | John C. Truong | May 14, 2020 |