The District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the D.C. Bar hosted their biennial joint conference on

Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11 in the modern, streamlined Ronald Reagan Building and International

Trade Center. The conference was focused on the future of the legal profession, a theme reflected in the

modern architecture of the building.

The event opened early Thursday afternoon with a call to order from D.C. Court of Appeals Chief

Judge Eric T. Washington, followed by State of the

Judiciary reports from Chief Judge Washington and

Superior Court Chief Judge Rufus G. King, III. Melvin

White, the current president of the D.C. Bar, presented

the Bar’s yearly report.

After a short break, a plenary panel was held.

Presenters during the session included Judges Craig

Iscoe and Ann O’Regan Keary from the D.C. Superior

Court, Judge Juanita Bing Newton from the New York

State Court, Professor Tamar M. Meekins of Howard

University School of Law, and Christopher Watler, a

project director from the Harlem Community Justice

Center. This panel’s focus was on the need for judges

and lawyers alike to develop and apply new skills

Princeton University. After graduation Chief JudgeKing took his first job at the Moultrie Courthouse.He worked during the day as a bailiff while attend-ing the night program at Georgetown Law School.He recalled his time as bailiff fondly, noting thatthere are still people at the courthouse today whowere here when he first came.

Chief Judge Rufus King, III announced that atthe end of his second term as Chief Judge he willretire. Known for his tall stature, baritone voice, andseemingly endless bow tie collection, Chief JudgeKing has been a noticeable presence at the court-house for years and will be remembered for his hard

work and unend-ing dedication toimproving thestructure andfunctions of theCourt.

ChiefJudge King grewup in the suburbsof Maryland, butmoved to D.C. in1967. Aftergraduating fromLandon HighSchool, heattended

Full Court PressNewsletter of the District of Columbia Courts June/July 2008

Open To All, Trusted By All, Justice For All Volume XXIV Number 3

Included in this issue:

4 New Court Reporting Supervisor

4 Capital Challenge Runners

5 New Employee Profiles

5 Firehook Opens

6 Youth Law Fair

7 New Life and Accident Insurance

8 Law Day

9 New Dental & Vision Plans

10 Spring Training

11-12 Rave Reviews

Chief Judge King, in chambers.

CHIEF JUDGE KING TO STEP DOWN IN SEPTEMBERBy Nicole Chapman, Executive Office Intern

Continued on page 3.

Photo by Nicole Chapman

JUDICIAL AND BAR CONFERENCE EMPHASIZES

FUTURE OF LEGAL PROFESSIONBy Katherine Hockey, Executive Office Intern

Continued on Page 2.Conference Co-Chair Judge John Fisher and Chief Judge Eric T.Washington . Photo by Ricardo Green

Page 2

when appearing in treatment courts.

Another panel, centering on the theme of

impact litigation, met later in the afternoon. Former

Bar Counsel Len Becker served as moderator while

several notable speakers – including Peter J.

Nickles, the Interim Attorney General for the District

of Columbia – offered their perspectives.

Friday morning opened with a plenary panel

on the changes and challenges that arise when

older lawyers retire and new generations of lawyers

with different goals, values and work habits, replace

them. After the panel drew to a close, attendees

filed into the ballroom for a luncheon.

During the meal, Melvin White, president of

the D.C. Bar, presented the Beatrice Rosenberg

Award for Excellence in Government Service to

Charlotte Brookins-Hudson, an attorney who has

dedicated upwards of 30 years to the local and fed-

eral government. Ms. Brookins-Hudson enjoyed a

long and varied career until her retirement in the

winter of last year. Though she held the position of

general counsel for the Council of the District of

Columbia for over 12 years (and served as deputy

general counsel for four years prior to that), she

has held a variety of other positions, including

assistant corporation counsel at what is now the

Office of the Attorney General, and U.S.

Department of Labor attorney. The award was

bestowed upon her in recognition of the outstand-

ing judgment she demonstrated over the course of

her illustrious government career, her work serving

as a mentor to younger government lawyers, and

her devotion to service, both to the public at large

and within her own community.

In his luncheon address, keynote speaker

Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan of the U.S. District

Court urged his audience to adapt to the changes

technology “push[ed] upon” the legal system. He

cited various innovations, including alternative dis-

pute resolution and new courtroom technology, as

well as DNA and e-filing. The greatest challenge,

he went on to say, would be to incorporate new

advances while remaining steadfast to the greatest

legal traditions of all: public service and high ethical

standards.

Friday afternoon was dominated by semi-

nars, running the gamut from electronic communi-

cations to increasing diversity on the bench to the

use of DNA to exonerate those wrongfully accused

of a crime. A musical presentation on “Embraceable

Ethics: The Ballads of the Virtuous Lawyer” was a

very enjoyable way for the attendees to receive

CLE credit. The diverse range of panels, seminars,

and lectures shared a sole defining characteristic:

whether they sought to reconcile judicial neutrality

with fairness to pro se litigants or to increase the

amount of technology in the workplace, all were

looking toward the future.

At an evening reception Sandra Bernstein

received the Scoutt Award. This honor is spon-

sored by the firm of Zucker, Scoutt & Rasenberger,

L.L.P. to honor founding partner Jerrold Scoutt, Jr.

for his ongoing support of legal services that assist-

ed those in greatest need. The award was con-

ceived to honor those who provide direct legal

assistance to the poor or otherwise disadvantaged.

Ms. Bernstein is the current legal director of the

University Legal Services’ Protection and Advocacy

Program for the District of Columbia, where she has

worked for more than a decade. The agency is

charged with protecting and advocating the rights of

people with disabilities within D.C. Ms. Bernstein

has had several notable successes, including the

relocation of the deaf services program at St.

Elizabeth’s Hospital – a victory which kept the hear-

ing-impaired from remaining institutionalized at the

hospital – and the recovery of upwards of a million

dollars designated for the care of mentally disabled

clients of the District of Columbia Mental

Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

Administration.

The Full Court Press is published by the District ofColumbia Courts to provide

information about the D.C. Courts. Inquiries should besubmitted to Room 1500.

Leah Gurowitz, EditorDennis Shipley, Creative Director

Judicial and Bar Conference, continued from page 1.

Page 3

Judge of the SuperiorCourt. Chief Judge Kingassumed his new posi-tion with certain goals inmind. He knew thatthere would be a numberof challenges and issuesthat would need to beaddressed. His goals asChief Judge includedimproving the computersystems, getting them tofunction in such a waythat anyone can goonline and look up a case

or other related informa-tion. The Courts were

starting a new strategic planprocess with a court-wide, com-prehensive approach. Lastly butcertainly one of the biggest chal-lenges, Chief Judge King knewgoing into his new position thatthe Family Division was going toneed some attention, but the levelof congressional involvement sur-prised him. He stated thatCongress pushed the issue alongin a good way. Both entitiesworked together and the outcomewas in everyone’s best interests.

As far as his accomplish-ments during his two terms, ChiefJudge King takes credit for verylittle. He attributes all theprogress to his staff and col-leagues who, he said, did thebulk of the work. Along with theaccomplishments of his afore-mentioned goals, the Court alsodeveloped a more positive repu-tation. It has strengthened itscredibility with members ofCongress and enhanced commu-nications with other city and fed-eral agencies.

When asked how hewould like to be remembered,Chief Judge King hoped everyonefelt that everything he did was for

Chief Judge King did notstart with a goal of becoming alawyer. He explored otheroptions first, but when he madethe decision to take that step hehad a lot of support. He statedthat his father, an attorney him-self, influenced him on what kindof lawyer he would be. ChiefJudge King described how hisfather instilled in him a standardof excellence and a commitmentto helping people. This encour-aged him to always be a part ofsmall, people-oriented law prac-tices. After completing lawschool, Chief Judge King had theopportunity to clerk for JudgeWilliam Pryor. He studied howJudge Prior preformed his duties.This sparked his interest inbecoming a judge. “As soon as Isaw that angle, how Judge Pryorworked and conducted his tasksof judging, I knew this was some-thing I wanted to do.”

On October 2, 1984,President Ronald Reaganappointed Chief Judge King tothe Superior Court. During histenure as judge he served in alldivisions except probate and tax.In 2000, he was appointed Chief

the benefit of the Court, that therewere no personal ambitions, andthat he tried to be a fair adminis-trator who encouraged the best inhis colleagues on the bench andin management.

When asked his fondestmemories, Chief Judge King saidthat the majority of his most posi-tive memories of the past 24years with the Superior Courthave come from being in thecourtroom. “I love trying cases. Inever had an assignment I dis-liked. People are interesting, Ithink about what brought the par-ties here and how I can intervenehelpfully.” He also referenced hisability to help on a larger scaleonce he was appointed ChiefJudge. The position has beenchallenging but it has allowed himto work with many different peo-ple to produce satisfying out-comes. On any task, he said hecould reach out in 50 differentdirections and find an informedcapable staff member that couldget the job done. “It has been areal pleasure to have this oppor-tunity of leadership with a staffthat can do their job so well.”Chief Judge King does not yethave any specific plans for retire-ment. There will be some travel-ing and time off, but he plans onapplying for senior status so thathe can continue to hear cases. “Ibelieve this to be the right timefor the Court, and for me person-ally, to step down. I do so withprofound gratitude for the oppor-tunity to serve this great Court.From my first day on the bench in1984, there has not been a daythat I would trade for workinganywhere else. I leave confidentin the Court’s future growth as aleader among the nation’s urbantrial courts.”

Chief Judge King, continued from page 1.

Chief Judge King -- a glimpse of what his future mayhold.

Page 4

On April 30, 2008, the ACLI Capital Challenge race tookplace in Anacostia Park. Members from the three branches ofgovernment – and the Fourth Estate – participated. The D.C.Courts fielded several teams, with a few members winningawards and others running ‘personal best’ times. Two SuperiorCourt judges won the first judge competition - Judge Craig Iscoefinished in 23:35 as the first male judge, and Judge JulietMcKenna was the fastest female judge in the race, turning in atime of 25:41.

The Rocket Dockets, the fastest of the Superior Courtteam, took second place in the judicial category. The RocketDockets members were: Judge Juliet McKenna, MagistrateJudge John McCabe, Robin Dull, Malcolm Drewery and MariaFehretdinov. The rosters for the other D.C. Courts teams wereas follows: Expedited Motions – Judge Craig Iscoe. Laura Tolan,Kimberly LeBlanc, Maura Polli, and Margarita Ortiz; Superior toWhat? – Judge Russell Canan, Kevin Dexter, Magistrate JudgeAlfred Irving, William Lynch, and Caroline Onyango; andRunning Objections – Chief Judge Eric Washington, along withNicholas Lewis, Randy McDonald, Karen Woody and JamieRenner. Congratulations to all who participated!

D.C. COURTS RACE TO THE FINISH IN CAPITAL CHALLENGEBy Nicole Chapman, Executive Office Intern

DCSC Runners - Front row: Laura Tolan, Judge McKenna,Margarita Ortiz. Second row: Maura Polli, Caroline Onyango,Kimberly LeBlanc, Judge Iscoe. Back row: Kevin Dexter, William(Billy) Lynch, Magistrate Judge McCabe.

On April 28, 2008, Ms.Carolyn Sargent-Burns became thenew supervisor of court reporters.For 30 years, Carolyn has servedthe D.C. Courts tirelessly and sheplans to continue her service in hernew position.

Originally from Oxford,Mississippi, Carolyn was interestedin a career in the courts from a veryearly age. Her father was an attor-ney and worked for the Bureau ofAlcohol, Tobacco and Firearmswhile her mother served as secre-tary to a judge. Her parents’ occu-pations exposed her to how courtsoperated and her interest wassparked in courtroom procedures.Carolyn graduated from theUniversity of Alabama with adegree in social services, attendedbusiness school, and also obtainedher Masters degree from CatholicUniversity.

While in business school,Carolyn participated in a trainingprogram that led to her working forthe District Attorney’s office in

A FAMILIAR FACE, A NEW OPPORTUNITYBy Nicole Chapman, Executive Office Intern

Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thereshe helped get cases ready for trialand got a real sense of the work-ings of a courthouse. At that pointCarolyn knew that she wanted acareer working in the judicial sys-tem, but that she did not want to bea lawyer.

In 1978, Carolyn joined theD.C. Courts as a court reporter.She took the job despite being toldthat it was not a good careerbecause it was “very hard and timeconsuming.” But that did not deterCarolyn from following her dream.“It was a challenge, and I like chal-

lenges, so I wanted to do it.” Carolyn says that being a

court reporter is really two jobs:the first is sitting in the courtroomduring a trial and transcribing courtproceedings; the second is the timespent out of courtroom producingtranscripts. She believes it takesan organized and hardworking per-son to do the job…or rather, thetwo jobs. Good court reporters arededicated, willing to keep up withtechnology, and effectively handledifferent situations and challenges.Clearly Carolyn meets those qualifi-cations and inspires others to doso.

Carolyn says that sheenjoys working with all the courtreporters and other staff at the D.C.Courts and looks forward to hernew position in management.Reflecting on her years of serviceand the challenges of her newposition, she said, “I’m one of thosepeople who loves what they do.”Congratulations to CarolynSargent-Burns.

Photo by Scott Applewhite

Carolyn Sargent-BurnsPhoto by Nicole Chapman

Page 5

Allen. Nathaniel, better known asKenny, was hired as a deputyclerk. He was born inWashington, D.C. and graduatedfrom Prince George’s CommunityCollege. He previously worked asa computer technician at ClintonChristian School. When not atwork Kenny enjoys music, com-puter video games, and reading.

Margaret LimaMargaret Limarecently joined theDomesticViolence Unit as adeputy clerk.Margaret wasborn in RhodeIsland and gradu-

ated from Roger WilliamsUniversity. Before joining theDomestic Violence Unit, sheworked as a legal secretary andas a court interpreter for peoplewho spoke Spanish or Portuguesein the Rhode Island courts. Forfun, Margaret enjoys running andother physical sports like basket-ball. She says that “it is veryenriching to be a part of an officethat helps so many people in needwho have nowhere else to go.”

Welcome to all!

Benita PayneThe Budget and FinanceDivision’s newest employee is

Benita Payne.Born and raisedin Washington,D.C., Benitagraduated fromHamptonUniversity. Shejoins the Courtsas an account-

ing compliance officer after havingworked for the Department ofTreasury’s Numismatic Division.She spends most of her free timeengaged in church functions andoutdoor activities with her son.Benita feels that it is a blessing towork with her wonderful new col-leagues and truly an honor to workwith the Courts.

NicholeAnderson Childrendropped off atthe childcarecenter will havea new friend inNichole

Anderson. Nichole was hired asassistant director of the Courts’Childcare Center. A Washingtonnative, she went to SoutheasternUniversity where she studied edu-

NEW EMPLOYEE PROFILESBy Nicole Chapman – Executive Office Intern

cation. She was formerly the pro-gram coordinator for the BrightHorizons program. In her sparetime Benita enjoys shopping,singing in her church choir, andkaraoke. She says that the bestpart of her job is being able to“meet the needs of the familiesthat come to the courthouse andgetting to meet all of the children.”

Adolfo LoeriOne of the mostrecent additionsto the SuperiorCourt family isAdolfo Loeri. Hejoins the CriminalDivision as a

deputy clerk. A Philadelphianative, Adolfo was raised inWashington, D.C. He formerlyworked for the American PlanningAssociation as an administrativeassistant. He loves to read and lis-ten to music in his spare time. Heappreciates his new job as a“great opportunityto learn.”

Nathaniel AllenThe CriminalDivision gainedanother newemployee after hir-ing Nathaniel Photos by Nicole Chapman

Employees of the Court and visitorsalike can now enjoy delicious food in theFirehook Café. Opened in early May, theyserve everything from soups, salads, andsandwiches, to baked goods for snacks ordessert. Enjoy!

Firehook staff Margaret Applewhite and Lucia Thornton alwaysgreet you with a smile.

FIREHOOK IS OPEN

FOR BUSINESS!

Page 6

On Saturday March 8th, the MoultrieCourthouse was filled with lawyers, judges, witness-es, and jurors. Trials were being conducted in fourcourtrooms on the third floor. However, very fewpeople over the age of 18 were present. These werenot regular trials but mock trials run by teens partici-pating in the 9th annual Youth Law Fair, cosponsoredby the D.C. Courts and the D.C. Bar’s SectionsOffice. Teens came to the courthouse on a rainySaturday to learn about the judicial process, not fromlectures, but from real hands-on experience in court-rooms.

The day began with a tour of the MoultrieCourthouse. Judges took the attendees throughoutthe courthouse so they couldsee courtrooms, courtoffices, the jurors’ lounge,and the most talked aboutarea: holding cells. After thetour, many parents and vol-unteers took the opportunityto take their children’s pic-tures not only sitting on thejudge’s bench but with anactual judge: Chief JudgeRufus King.

In the jurors’ loungeChief Judge King introducedCurtis Etherly. Well-knownto those who had attendedmore than one Youth Law Fair, Curtis is a graduateof Ballou High School and Georgetown Law Schoolwho is now a vice president at Coca ColaMidAtlantic. Curtis is also a dynamic speaker whosestyle and approach worked well with high schoolers.Curtis introduced the theme of the day, InternetIssues: Dangers of Social Networking and Blogs. Hequestioned the youth about sites like MySpace andFacebook and asked them to talk about what theyhad on their pages and how they felt about adultconcerns that such sites were dangerous. Therewere plenty of opinions, especially when some of theparents in attendance jumped into the discussion.

Soon the teens were released from the dis-cussion and split up into four courtrooms.

“All rise! The court is now in session! TheHonorable Judge Irving now presiding,” boomedthroughout courtroom 311 as a seventeen-year-oldbailiff brought the court to order and officially beganthe trial. The case facts involved some students

COURT IS NOW IN SESSION: YOUTH LAW FAIR 2008By Nicole Chapman, Executive Office Intern

teasing another via a social networking site and theteasing resulted in the victim committing suicide. Itwas up to the teens, specifically those who werejurors in the mock trials, to assign blame and todetermine guilt. They assessed whether a personcould be held responsible for the impact of theiractions and words online. The trials followed theusual courtroom procedures, with an interesting twisthere and there. Judges advised the students on arotating basis and occasionally even loaned a robe,when needed. The lawyers made all kinds of objec-tions, saying “irrelevant” and “asked and answered”which drew laughter from opposing counsel. Bothsides had at least three teens portraying lawyers, so

opening and closing state-ments were made in severalparts.

Jurors took notes, con-ferred, and verbally madetheir positions known whenthey did not believe a witness.After an hour and a half, thejudges (guided by D.C.Superior Court judges) calledfor a recess for lunch. It wasduring this time that many ofthe teens took the opportunityto talk one-on-one with CurtisEtherly and some of thejudges about their experi-

ences and views about the Internet and social net-working sites. Some tried out their new legal vocab-ulary citing First Amendment law and privacy rightswhen defending their use of social sites. Othersused this time and their cunning to try and get Curtisto divulge information about the prizes that would behanded out at the end of the day, valuable informa-tion such as whose concert tickets they might win.

After lunch, everyone returned to their court-rooms in order to finish the remainder of the trials.After closing arguments were presented, the jurywent into the next room and deliberated with the aidof an attorney, while the rest of the students in thecourtroom acted like a second, or alternate, jury anddiscussed which way they would vote and why.Once the jury returned, the foreperson read the deci-sion.

At the end of the day, all of the kids returnedto the jurors’ lounge and waited to hear the results ofthe other courtrooms, but more importantly to see if

Continued on Page 7.

Chief Judge King poses with Youth Law Fair participants.Photo by Nicole Chapman

judicial and lawyer volunteers. The teens got a lotout of it because of all the work that everyone putinto it.

they won a prize in the raffle. Before prizes weredistributed, Curtis engaged the participants in a dis-cussion to see if any had changed their minds aboutusing social networking websites. There were a fewwho said that they would take off their personalinformation and even a couple who said they nowwanted to shut them down entirely. Even though thevast majority vowed to continue their use of socialnetworking sites, they all received information aboutthe dangers these sites present, and ways that theycould use them more safely. Judge Mel Wrightassisted Curtis in drawing out tickets and passingout prizes. They gave away gift cards, Wizards tick-ets, and four tickets to the Mary J. Blige and Jay-Zconcert.

Overall the event was a big success, with agood turnout of students who were engaged in thetopic and learned a lot both about the court systemand about the Internet. Thanks to our partners atthe D.C. Bar Sections Office who sponsor the eventwith the D.C. Courts each year, especially to DonDaughetee who serves as overall coordinator, and toJudge Mel Wright who again coordinated theSuperior Court’s participation and recruited the many

Page 7

Law fair,continued from page 6.

Youth Law Fair participants in a mock trial.Photo by Nicole Chapman

DC COURTS’ NEW VOLUNTARY LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCEBy Meghan Aberle, Program Analyst, HR Division

The Human Resources Division is pleased to announce two new voluntary benefits. The UniversalLifeEvent program provides participants with a death benefit and a long term care benefit. During theworking years, the participant’s death benefit provides maximum protection. When the insured per-son reaches age 70 and financial needs may be lower, the death benefit is reduced, but the livingbenefit (i.e. long term care) remains at the full level. The focus of this new policy to provide employ-ees with the most coverage at the time it is most needed.

The Accident Insurance program will help participants pay for unexpected, out-of-pocket,healthcare expenses due to an accident. Accident insurance coverage is available to all members ofyour immediate family. Open enrollment for these new programs ends July 7, 2008. For more infor-mation or to enroll please contact a benefits specialist at 2-0496.

Program Highlights

Universal LifeEvents Plan

• Guaranteed coverage for first time enrolleesduring this period

• Affordable premiums• Convenience of payroll deduction• Coverage includes living benefits, such as

Long Term Care, Home Health Care, orAssisted Living

Accident Insurance Program

• Affordable rates• Wellness benefit• Easy enrollment process• Family coverage available and

100% portable

Page 8

Continued on page 9.

Thursday morning, May 1, 2008, school bellsrang as usual, but this day was a little different. Forsome students in history, civics, and street law class-es throughout the city, this period would not be justanother class. It was Law Day.Eight judges and the Clerk of theCourt of Appeals spent time teachingstudents from eight high schools andone middle school about the rule oflaw, criminal justice, the structure ofthe D.C. Courts, and their own legalcareers.

Chief Judge King, JudgesCanan, Iscoe, Leibovitz, Hamilton,Ross, Satterfield, and GarlandPinkston went, respectively, to thehospitality program at RooseveltHigh School, Duke Ellington SeniorHigh, Eastern High School, SchoolWithout Walls, Luke C. MooreAcademy, Cardozo Senior HighSchool, Banneker Academic SeniorHigh School and Calvin Coolidge Senior HighSchool. In addition, Judge Cordero hosted mock tri-als in her courtroom for 5th graders from BlessedSacrament Elementary School.

This reporter was able to observe two ofthese appearances. First – Cardozo. After introduc-ing himself, and having each student do the same,Judge Maurice Ross wove the rule of law, D.C.’scriminal justice system, and his own life experiencesinto his presentation. He spoke to 16 students in astreet law class at Cardozo Senior High School. Hebegan by talking about the history of Law Day:Every year in May the Soviet Union would put on aparade where they would march the military andweapons through Red Square. The purpose was toshowcase their military might for the rest of the worldto see. President Eisenhower’s response was tocreate Law Day in celebration of the United States’peaceful power and demonstrate that it is a nationruled by laws.

Judge Ross insisted on an interactiveapproach, asking students what they wanted to bewhen they graduated. Taking some of their respons-es, he explained how each career connects to thejudicial system. “The judicial system touches justabout every area of life in the District.” He thenasked the students what they knew or liked about thecourt system. After one mentioned how he likedlawyers arguing, Judge Ross took the opportunity todispel the myths about trial and courtroom proce-dures promoted by court television shows.

The highlight of the presentation came afterthe teacher asked Judge Ross to describe some ofhis most exciting or memorable cases. The casesranged from a woman suing Metro for the loss of toes,

to another involving medical mal-practice, to a man high on PCPshooting his friend in the back ofthe head (the friend lived), to astory about how a robber (unfamil-iar with D.C. streets) was caughtbecause he got lost. The judgeconcluded by telling the class abouta man who came into his courtroomlate using the excuse he couldn’tfind a parking spot. Unfortunately,the man was appearing before thejudge on charges that he was oper-ating after suspension of his driver’slicense! Many of the students stat-ed that they would never be thatfoolish. Judge Ross was quick towarn the children against thinking

that they were smart enough to break the law and notget caught.

Jury duty took center stage towards the end ofthe class. Many of the students present would soonbe eligible to be summoned for jury duty. Judge Rosswanted to make it very clear why everyone must takehis or her duty to serve as a juror seriously. “Howwould you feel if you or your family member wasinjured and the judge told you that the trial could notgo forward because there are no jurors?” Judge Rosscontinued to stress the necessity of citizens’ participa-tion because the criminal justice system depends onthem and it would “come to a halt without jurors.”

Before the final bell, Judge Ross took amoment to give the students some quick advice onhow to succeed. He told them that they must showup on time, be ready to work, and dedicate them-selves completely to all that they do. He specificallymentioned the need to stay away from drugs becausethey can ruin your life quickly. There was also a mes-sage specifically tailored to the young men in theroom. They were charged with the challenge of dis-carding the “gangster lifestyle” that glorifies violence,drugs, and taking the easy road.

Just a couple of streets over and five dayslater Judge Satterfield spoke to a group of students atBanneker Academic Senior High School. (Bannekerhad standardized testing on Law Day) JudgeSatterfield’s lecture started with a round of applause:

JUDGES SPEAKS WITH STUDENTS ON LAW DAYBy Nicole Chapman, Executive Office Intern

Judge Ross talks to students at CordozoSenior High School. Photo by Nicole Chapman

Page 9

congratulations for the students in the class, all ofwhom were graduating and going to college. The mainfocus was on leadership and how each and every oneof the students in the room had the potential to beleaders.

“Who am I talking to?”Judge Satterfield rhetoricallyasked. “In this room there arefuture doctors, teachers, dentists,and child psychiatrists. Leaderswho could someday come backand help D.C. progress.” Hestressed the importance of every-one’s participation in bettering thecity. “Everyone in here is part ofthis puzzle we call a community.”He acknowledged the difficultiesthat they might have to face inorder to reach their goals. Someof the difficulties included loss,family strife, distracters, anddetractors. He advised them to notsuccumb to “self-inflicting wounds”when dealing with difficulties.

“Self-inflicted wounds bleed, they make youweak.” These can include anything from drugs, gangs,turning to crime, or simply allowing oneself to stopreaching for one’s goals. Judge Satterfield acknowl-edged that the road to success is not an easy one butthat leaders were up for the challenge, and then he told

Law Day, continued from page 8.

the students that he believed that he was in a room fullof leaders. It wasn’t long before Judge Satterfieldannounced that the lecture was over. He wanted tohear from them. Students began asking him about his

life, influences, and trials he has facedas a judge.

He told them how some of hishardest decisions came in Family Court.Separating a child from his or her family,even when it is in the child’s best inter-est, is never an easy thing do to. Eventhough some of his toughest decisionsdealt with families, one of his favoriteparts of the courthouse is the FamilyCourt level. Judge Satterfield talkedabout how the artwork on the JM levelwas made by the children of the District.He said he loves to go and look at all ofthe drawings; they have an upliftingeffect on him. At the end of his time atthe school, Judge Satterfield wrote hisnumber on the board for any student thatwanted to visit the courthouse. He told

them they were all welcome and could call on him ifthey wished because they would be his personalguests.

We thank all of the judges who participated inLaw Day 2008. It was an excellent learning and men-toring opportunity and one that the students clearly willremember for years.

Judge Satterfield rhetorically asks students atBanneker, “Who am I talking to?”Photo by Nicole Chapman

NEW DENTAL & VISION BENEFITS FROM AMERITASBy Meghan Aberle, Program Analyst, HR Division

As a part of the D.C. Courts’ continual effort to provide employees with comprehensive benefits, theHuman Resources Division announces that Ameritas will have its fourth open enrollment this month (June 16to July 16, 2008). Ameritas offers employees affordable dental and vision coverage to meet their specificneeds. With the implementation of the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP),D.C. Courts’ employees now have increased flexibility in their choice of dental and vision plans.

Last year the Courts’ dental plan added a Dental Rewards program, which is a bonus program thatrewards participants for getting regular checkup and maintaining proper dental hygiene. By submitting at leastone claim per plan year, participants can carry over the unused portion of their annual maximum. Each yearthe amount accumulates and the monies can be applied towards expensive procedures. Participants are eligi-ble to carry over the remainder of their unused maximum, if they submit at least one claim and incur expensesof less than $500.

This year the Courts have added Lasik Advantage to the vision plan. Lasik Advantage provides cover-age for LASIK related procedures for adult plan members. Throughout a four-year period, members earn life-time benefits for each eye. Benefits earned for each eye cannot be combined to pay for a procedure on oneeye. For more information about Lasik Advantage, Dental Rewards, and the D.C. Courts’ voluntary dental andvision plans, please contact a benefits specialist at extension 2-0496.

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Typically, spring is a time for change, renewaland rejuvenation. Things are no different for us hereat the District of Columbia Courts where we look for-ward to learning new things and trying new innova-tions that we hope will keep us on the cutting edgeof court management innovations. As most areaware, the judicial officers of the Courts generallyhave a training session every spring. This is anopportunity for each of them to put down the gavel,take off the black robe, leave the MoultrieCourthouse, and interact with one another in a groupsetting. Every other year, the judicial officers andsenior managers train together to plan fresh strate-gies for the future of the entire court community.

This year, on May 7-9, we all headed to themountains of Pennsylvania for our annual brain-storming session. Going off-site sometimes lendsitself to a flow of new ideas that one is not easilyafforded with the distractions and duties of the famil-iar. This year was one such year. The judges chose“Science and the Law” as their educational topic,while the senior managers focused on “Building aGreat Place to Work.” Both groups enjoyed a seriesof plenary speakers who challenged them as individ-uals and as working groups to tunnel within to makecertain they are giving the best of themselves. Someof the plenary topics included “OvercomingObstacles” and “Embracing Change: You Don’t KnowMe Until You Know Me.” Since the community gener-ally served in the District is quite diverse, thisseemed like a particularly appropriate topic. It was achance for the judicial officers and the managementstaff to interact not only with one another, but also toreflect on how they deal with their staffs, courtemployees and the public in general. Two of theguest faculty, Ken Kunken, Esq. and Michael Fowlin,Ph.D. did not disappoint and really got to the heart ofthe matter of both topics. The court attendees, man-agers and judges, were transformed by each of thepresentations. It was clear that the topics and theunique presentations had evoked thought and emo-tion.

The judges then heard from a number ofspeakers who discussed such specialized and highlytechnical information as PET scans, neuroscience,the admission of expert evidence, creative aging,and the teenaged addicted brain. The senior man-agers discussed how to make the D.C. Courts a bet-ter place to work at all levels and — as you canimagine — were only able to scratch the surface ofthis very interesting and complex subject. One thing

Senior managers building a better workplace.

was clear: they were definitely committed to creating thebest possible work environment for themselves and,more importantly, their staffs. These topics will clearlyhelp both groups interact more, enhance their job satis-faction and performance, and better interact with theircolleagues and the public.

While the judges and senior managers are off-site, there is an opportunity for the rest of the employeesto gain valuable training themselves, particularly thosewho have jobs that require them to be in a courtroomwhenever a judge is on the bench. The Center forEducation and Training arranged for a wide range oftraining in computer technology, as well as classes toassist new employees in fulfilling their mandatory classrequirements in Ethics, Court Security, SexualHarassment, and Equal Employment Opportunity poli-cies. Classes were also offered to assist employees intopics such as “Improving Your Performance for OptimalResults” and “Communicate with Impact.” This timewhen judges and senior managers were off-site wasalso a chance for individual divisions to catch up on theirworkloads or offer in-house training opportunities thatwere division-specific.

Additionally, the Center for Education andTraining has plans to repeat last year’s successfulCourtwide Training Conference, that Willie Jolley helpedus launch. Stay tuned for news about our secondCourtwide Training Conference next spring.

In conclusion, training affords us all an opportuni-ty to see things from alternative perspectives and tosolve problems in a different way utilizing some of thetools that we have just learned how to use. It is anoccasion when we can all feel reborn in a sense andawakened to new possibilities. In the end, isn’t that whatmakes life interesting?

SPRING TRAINING 2008By Crystal L. Banks, Deputy Director of the Center for Education and Training

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From:Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 10:11 PMTo: WebMasterSubject: praise for jury duty system...

I was called for jury duty awhile ago and many friends (inside DC and outside) have complained about jury service. I was

prepared for a long wait and lots of bureaucracy but I was very pleasantly surprised at how well-organized the website was

and how helpful the [Jurors’ Office] staff was. I was very impressed.

1) I deferred very late at night on the website, and the next morning I received an email from a real person acknowledging

my deferral!

2) While there was some waiting in hallways, the system for organizing prospective jurors seemed to go smoothly. Maybe

having the jury questionnaires online will also speed up the process?

3) During the trial, our clerk was very helpful, provided her phone number in case we were late arriving in the morning, etc.

4) I received a thank you letter from the judge. It was a pleasant surprise and I was glad to know that DC really does

appreciate its jurors!

Keep up the great work!

Editor’s note: Jury duty registration and deferral may be done on-line.

Rave Reviews

March 31, 2008

Ms. Jeannie Adams, Director

Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division

Dear Ms. Adams:

I know how busy your office can be. I wish to take this opportunity to

thank one of your employees, Ms. Linda Sharp. I am not sure how my

case will turn out, but Ms. Sharp went way beyond the call of duty to help

me. I wish to express my sincere “THANK YOU”.

From: Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 2:22 PMTo: Subject: RE: HELP

Mr. [Jed] Miller,

Your expertise and assistance were invaluable during a very difficult

experience for a lay person as I am. Because of the easy access to

court records through the website, with your assistance, I was able to

keep abreast of the calendar entries in my case. The DC [Courts are] to

be complimented for having a competent professional like you on board.Many Thanks

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U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice ProgramsOffice for Victims of CrimeDonald William YoungerLegal Claims ExaminerCrime Victims CompensationProgram

515 5th Street NW, Suite 109Washington, DC 20001

Dear Mr. Donald Younger:

Each year during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Attorney

General honors extraordinary individuals or programs that provide services to

victims of crime with the National Crime Victim Service Award, the Special

Courage Award, the Volunteer for Victims Award, the Award for Professional

Innovation in Victim Services, the Crime Victims Fund Award, and the Federal

Service Award. I am pleased to inform you that you were among those nominat-

ed. On behalf of your colleagues, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the

crime victims you serve, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) would like to

thank you for your dedication and hard work.

OVC received letters nominating many exceptional victim advocates

from across the Nation. Of the more than 121 nominations received, only nine

advocates were selected to receive the awards. Choosing such a small number

of recipients from such an outstanding group has been a difficult challenge.

Although you were not selected as a finalist, we recognize the significance of

your contributions. Accordingly, we are sending you a Department of Justice

certificate of appreciation.

Learning firsthand of your efforts inspires those of us at the federal

level to strive for excellence in fulfilling our own responsibilities to crime vic-

tims. OVC staff and I salute you for your ongoing efforts that ensure victims’

rights and services are not only celebrated annually, but practiced daily. Please

keep up the good work and continue to make a difference!

Sincerely,

John W. GillisDirector

Mr. Jorge Nava

Probation Officer

Dear Mr. Nava:

Please accept this letter as a testament of our appreciation for the work you do and

the many ways in which it benefits our school. The Next Step Public Charter

School has had the privilege of working with you for several years now. During

this time, your dedication and professionalism have been essential in helping us

maintain a safe, positive and productive learning environment. You have always

been accessible and ready to go the extra mile to support the youth as well as the

school. Your availability to attend meetings on short notice and to offer your input

has often helped us to better understand and address the full set of needs of our

students. We offer you our deepest gratitude for the attention and commitment

you have demonstrated towards the youth in our school and the community.

Sincerely,

Juan Carlos Martinez