DC Judicial-Bar Conference focuses on crucial access to justice issues

Submitted by anita.jarman@dc...
on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 14:15

DC Superior Court Civil Division Presiding Judge Melvin Wright participating in the "Voir Dire in the District" panel discussion
The 2013 DC Judicial and Bar Conference, celebrating the 50thanniversary of US Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, gathered the city’s legal minds to discuss the progress in ensuring access to counsel in the years since the decision was handed down.  With various forums, seminars, panel discussions, and keynote speakers, attendees discussed both improvements and barriers to access to counsel, hearing from a range of experts and then watching an award-winning documentary film regarding the Gideon v. Wainwright decision.

The conference was called to order by DC Court of Appeals

Tags: 
Courts
DC Bar
conference

DC Courts celebrate Law Day

Submitted by DC Courts PIO
on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 15:07

On Wednesday, May 1st, the DC Courts celebrated Law Day under the American Bar Association’s theme of “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All”. This year’s ceremony at the DC Courts commemorated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln.

Prior to the Law Day ceremony, the Courts’ hosted a one-hour Q&A session on twitter with Eric Washington, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, and Lee Satterfield, Chief Judge of the Superior Court.   

The Law Day ceremony began with a brief welcome by Chief Judge Washington and was conducted in front

Tags: 
Law Day

Superior Court's Drug Court hosts commencement ceremony

Submitted by DC Courts PIO
on Thu, 04/18/2013 - 18:12

Drug Court participants who successfully completed the Superior Court Drug Intervention Program (SCDIP) were recently recognized in a celebratory commencement ceremony. Darrell Harrington, a case manager of the SCDIP, gave opening remarks, acknowledging and welcoming the participants. Darrell West, a participant in phase two of the SCDIP, then shared a few words of encouragement from the Bible. After West, Tarinna Terrell, another case manger, read an original poem titled “A Toxic Conception”, about how birth into the circumstance of addiction affected her life and hopes for her own children.
Tags: 
Drug Court

DC Courts welcome national conference on fairness in the courts

Submitted by DC Courts PIO
on Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:10

The 25thAnnual Conference of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts recently took place in Washington DC. Under the theme of “Remembering the past as we envision and embrace the future,” the 3-day conference examined new challenges that have emerged in the justice system.  

With the nation this year celebrating the 150thanniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50thanniversary of the March on Washington, the conference addressed topics related to demographic changes, new linguistic minorities, new patterns and forms of discrimination and

Tags: 
Racial and Ethnic Fairness

Youth Law Fair welcomes more than 200 District students

Submitted by DC Courts PIO
on Mon, 03/18/2013 - 18:20

The DC Courts and DC Bar recently co-hosted the 14th annual Youth Law Fair for DC area youth. More than 200 DC area high school students, along with the local Girl Scouts chapter, flocked to the Moultrie Courthouse to participate. This year’s theme was “Bully-Proof.”

Curtis Etherly, of Coca-Cola Mid-Atlantic facilitated a speakout for students to discuss their experiences with bullying. Students were taught appropriate ways to respond to bullying. Mr. Etherly stressed that the most important thing to do is to tell someone who can help.

Students were then given an introduction to the court

Tags: 
Youth Law Fair

DC Courts launch third Strategic Plan – Open to All, Trusted by All, Justice for All

Submitted by Jose E. Idler
on Fri, 03/01/2013 - 19:58

The DC Courts today launched their strategic plan for 2013-2017, setting out goals and priorities for the next five years. The plan’s title is the Courts’ vision statement: Open to All, Trusted by All, Justice for All. This third plan is the result of a year-long outreach effort that reflects the input received from court participants, lawyers, justice organizations, court employees and judges.

“The plan will enable us to build on the successes of our previous plans as we continue to enhance our service to the community,” said DC Court of Appeals Chief Judge Eric Washington, also chair of

Tags: 
DC Courts Strategic Plan

Pages