In December 2011, three individuals were reappointed as members of the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (“JNC”), and one individual was appointed as a new member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure (“CJDT”). The reappointed members of the JNC are William Lucy, Natalie O. Ludaway, and Reverend Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Sr. The new member of the CJDT is Dr. Michael Williams, MD.

Mr. Lucy and Ms. Ludaway were reappointed to the JNC by Mayor Vincent C. Gray on December 23, 2011. Their terms are set to end on February 27, 2014, and February 27, 2016, respectively. Reverend Shearin was reappointed to the JNC by the D.C. Council on December 6, 2011. His term is set to end on April 7, 2017. Mr. Lucy and Reverend Shearin both serve as non-lawyer members of the JNC, and Ms. Ludaway serves as a lawyer member. Dr. Williams was appointed to the CJDT by the D.C. Council on December 6, 2011. His term is set to end on May 5, 2017. Dr. Williams serves as a non-lawyer member of the CJDT.

By way of background, the JNC is responsible for recommending to the President of the United States attorneys for nomination to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and for appointing the chief judge of each of those courts. The CJDT is responsible for recommending the appointment of retired judges to serve as senior judges on the Court of Appeals and Superior Court, and has the power to remove, retire, censure, or reprimand judges of those courts. The JNC and CJDT are separate entities, each consisting of seven members: one member appointed by the President of the United States; two members appointed by the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar, both of whom must be lawyers; two members appointed by the Mayor, one of whom must be a non-lawyer; one member appointed by the D.C. Council and who must be a non-lawyer; and one member appointed by the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and who must be an active or retired Federal judge of the District of Columbia. No individual is allowed to serve at the same time on both the JNC and CJDT.

To read the Mayor’s Order reappointing Mr. Lucy and Ms. Ludaway to the JNC, click here. To read the D.C. Council’s Resolution reappointing Reverend Shearin to the JNC, click here. To read the D.C. Council’s Resolution appointing Mr. Williams to the CJDT, click here.

About the Author: Douglas C. Melcher is a licensed attorney and an active member of the District of Columbia Bar with more than a decade of experience practicing law in the District of Columbia. Mr. Melcher may be contacted by e-mail at dmelcher@DCLaw.net or by telephone at (202) 521-0603. To learn more about Mr. Melcher, click here.