The Courts celebrated Judge John Fisher’s investiture asa Court of Appeals judge in a January 6, 2006 ceremony in theMoultrie Courthouse atrium. Chief Judge Eric T. Washingtonpresided over the event, attended by a large crowd of judges,family, friends, prosecutors, court staff, and other well-wishers.Judge Fisher’s immediate family, his wife Margaret Fisher andhis children, Clark and Mandana, participated in the ceremony.Friends from years back, some who traveled hundreds of miles,came to celebrate Judge Fisher’s achievement.

The ceremony began with Ms. Tracy Nuttal, ExecutiveAssistant to Chief Judge Washington, singing the NationalAnthem and Clerk of Court Garland Pinkston leading the Pledgeof Allegiance. Chief Judge Washington then made brief biogra-phical remarks – including the crucial information that JudgeFisher is not only a bluegrass fan, but that he has often beenridiculed for that passion. The Chief Judge asked ExecutiveAssistant U.S. Attorney Mary Pat Brown to the podium to speakof her former colleague. Ms. Brown clearly relished the oppor-tunity both to praise John Fisher and to tease him. She talkedabout his encyclopedic knowledge of case law, which was help-ful, she pointed out, when Lexis was not working. She spoke of

his patience indealing with col-leagues who werenot as familiarwith various areasof the law, statingthat the good newswas that he wouldpatiently listen toyou, the bad newswas that youwould – in the end– realize that youwere completelyoff-base. Ms.Brown concludedwith some heartfeltwords about whata fine personJudge Fisher is,one who can becounted on to dowhat is right, fairand true.

Judge

Full Court PressNewsletter of the District of Columbia Courts January/February 2006Open To All, Trusted By All, Justice For All Volume XXIII Number 1

JOHN FISHER SWORN IN AS NEWEST MEMBER OF THE COURT OF APPEALSBy Leah Gurowitz, Executive Office

Fisher’s wife held the Bible as he took the oath of office. Histwo children helped robe him. Judge Fisher offered his appreci-ation to those assembled. He first thanked his immediate fami-ly, Margaret, Clark and Mandy, for their constant support andlove. He then offered his thanks to his out of town friends whotraveled to be present at the ceremony, to other friends andneighbors who came to share the celebration with him, to hisformer colleagues in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who turned outin support, and to his new Court colleagues, including not onlythe judges but all the Court of Appeals employees, who hadwelcomed him so warmly.

Judge Fisher was about to return to his seat when theChief Judge reminded him that he had a new seat now. JudgeNoel Anketell Kramer, formerly the newest Court of Appealsjudge, escorted Judge Fisher to his rightful place among his col-leagues.

Judge Fisher’s children Clark and Mandy help robe the judge.

Chief Judge Eric Washington administers the oath of office to JudgeFisher, as his wife Margaret holds the Bible.

Included in this issue:

2 Investiture of Judge Juliet McKenna

3 Adoption Day 2005

4-5 Katrina Relief Efforts

6 Native American Heritage Month

6 Family Treatment Court

7 Multi-Door’s 20th Anniversary

7 Students Learn About Law

8 Employee Profile - Crystal L. Banks

8 IT Division Achieves Certification

9 Season of Honors

9 Reaching Out to the Community

10 New Court Employees

10 Magistrate Judge Meets With Students

11 Construction Update

12 RAVE REVIEWS

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Lawyers for Children America, a non-profit organizationthat trains and provides on-going support to pro bonoattorneys appointed as guardians ad litem on behalf ofchildren in the abuse and neglect system.

Judge McKenna was one of the first five magis-trate judges appointed in April 2002, pursuant to theFamily Court Act of 2001. In that capacity, she presidedover abuse and neglect matters, as well as related adop-tion, custody, juvenile and domestic violence proceed-ings. In addition, Judge McKenna developed and imple-mented the Family Court Benchmark PermanencyHearing Pilot Program to ensure that young people“aging out” of foster care are prepared for the transitionto independent living and have support systems in place.

Judge McKenna received the Arthur LimanPublic Service Fellowship in 1999. The Bar Associationof the District of Columbia presented her with an“Unsung Hero of the Law” award in 2001.

At a ceremony on December 16, 2005, JudgeJuliet McKenna was sworn in as the newestAssociate Judge of the D.C. Superior Court. ChiefJudge Rufus G. King, III presided over the investi-ture, while Judge Lee F. Satterfield administered theoath of office. Judge McKenna’s husband, DougKendall, held the Bible and, in an intergenerationaleffort, her mother and daughter robed her.

Family Court Magistrate Judge Carol Daltonspoke of her colleague’s energy, drive and enthusi-asm. “Juliet’s calm demeanor, cheerful dignity andwise courtroom control leaves the parties appearingbefore her - even when she ruled against them - withthe understanding that their concerns were fullyheard and a fair and impartial decision made.”

Judge McKenna graduated summa cum laudefrom Georgetown University in 1992 and receivedher J.D. from Yale Law School in 1995. After lawschool, Judge McKenna joined the law firm ofCrowell &Moring, but leftafter one year tojoin the Office ofCorporationCounsel (nowOffice of theAttorneyGeneral), prose-cuting civil childabuse and neg-lect matters onbehalf of theDistrict ofColumbia. In1998, JudgeMcKenna beganher work with

The Full Court Press is published by the District of Columbia Courts to provideinformation about the D.C. Courts. Inquiries should be submitted to Room 1500.

Leah Gurowitz, EditorDennis Shipley, Creative Director

Fred Horowitz, Chief Photographer

JUDGE JULIET MCKENNA’S INVESTITURE HELD IN DECEMBERBy Leah Gurowitz, Executive Office

Judge Lee F. Satterfield administers theoath of office to Judge McKenna, as herhusband Doug Kendall holds the Bible.

Judge McKenna’s mother and daughter help her with her robe, as hus-band Doug and colleagues look on.

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D.C. SUPERIOR COURT CELEBRATES 19th ANNUAL ADOPTION DAYBy Jo-Ella Brooks, Family Treatment Court Program Coordinator

Saturday, November 19, 2005found the atrium of the MoultrieCourthouse transformed by colorfulballoons, families, and friends, all therein support of the 19th annual AdoptionDay Ceremony. Excited childrendressed in their very best were seatedamong judges, social workers, andproud parents to mark this joyous occa-sion. The Honorable Anita Josey-Herring, then-Deputy Presiding Judge

of the Family Court, introduced theemcee Barbara Harrison, veterananchorwoman of News 4 with warmregards and praise for her vital contri-butions in the lives of so many childrenas host of Wednesday’s Child. Thisyear’s theme set the stage: Add to aFamily, Multiply the Love. ThisFamily Court celebration was co-spon-sored with the District of ColumbiaChild and FamilyServices Agency(CFSA) and highlightedthe on-going need forloving parents to adoptchildren.

The event beganwith the presentation ofthe colors by theFriendship EdisonAcademy in the Districtof Columbia, followedby the National Anthem

sung by DomesticViolence CourtroomClerk RenardReinhart. TheHonorable Lee F.Satterfield, then-Presiding Judge of theFamily Court, wel-comed attendees, fol-lowed by a readingfrom Corey HowardO’Connell whoseadoption became finalduring the ceremony.Chief Judge RufusKing delivered opening remarks about thespecial nature of adoption and the joys itbrings to both parents and children.

Congresswoman Eleanor HolmesNorton spoke passionate words of inspira-tion lending her full support to the courageand commitment of adoptive families. Shewas especially pleased to see that a neigh-bor of hers was having his adoption final-ized! Brenda Donald Walker, DeputyMayor of Children, Youth, Families &Elders, echoed the sentiments of the day,remarking on the dedication of CFSA staff.Maxine Baker of the Freddie MacFoundation, a sponsor of the event, madebrief remarks congratulating all of theadoptive families.

The highlight of the ceremony formany was the remarks of keynote speaker,Victoria Rowell of the television show TheYoung and the Restless. Ms. Rowell is aformer foster child who is now helpingothers through the foundation sheestablished, The Rowell Foster

Children’s PositivePlan. Her remarkswere clearly heartfeltand inspiring tomany in the audi-ence. Ms. Rowellstayed to see everychild’s adoption getfinalized, offeringwarm embraces toall the adopted chil-dren and having herpicture taken with

them and their new families. CFSA andthe Court were pleased to announce that411 children were adopted during fiscalyear 2005 and more than 30 adoptiondecrees were finalized at the AdoptionDay ceremony.

This year’s ceremony was JudgeSatterfield’s final Adoption Day as presid-ing judge of Family Court. DeputyMayor Brenda Donald Walker read aproclamation of Mayor Anthony Williamsdeclaring November 19, 2005 to be “LeeF. Satterfield Day.” Chief Judge Kingpresented Judge Satterfield with a plaquemarking his significant contributions asthe first-ever Presiding Judge of FamilyCourt. Judge Satterfield’s colleaguesresponded with a standing ovation. Theceremony was followed by a receptionand musical entertainment provided bythe Metropolitan Police Department band,“MPD Confidential.”

B. Michael Carr performs a songdedicated to the children.

Victoria Rowell dances with MPD Confidential at the reception after theceremony.

Chief Judge King presents a plaque todeparting Family Court Presiding JudgeLee F. Satterfield.

Magistrate Judge Pam Gray; Damian Miller, staff assistantto Senator Landrieu; and keynote speaker Victoria Rowellshare a moment together at Adoption Day.

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D.C. COURTS RESPOND TO KATRINABy H. Clifton Grandy, Convenor, Court Employees Emergency Relief Fund

Following hurricanes Katrina and Rita in NewOrleans and the Gulf Coast, court staff swung into action tosupport co-workers who were affected by these disasters,creating the Court Employees Emergency Relief Fund(CEERF) Committee. Since the scope of the damage isunprecedented, the group decided that it would dedicateitself to a sustained effort rather than undertaking a one-time collection and that it would focus on assisting familymembers of D.C. Courts’ employees. The Committee creat-ed an intranet homepage to publicize the Fund’s existenceand to facilitate employee contributions, which can be madeusing a voluntary payroll allotment. The web page alsoincludes an application for assistance.

On December 5, 2005, CEERF held a sucessfulfundraising luncheon and cook-off competition that featuredregional specialties. The chefs included Mike Alston (Cajunsmoked turkey), Lorraine Anderson (hot wings), CarolBarnes (cake and pin wheels), Cheryl Bailey (salad andsausage & chicken jambalaya), Ruth Gantt (pecan sweetpotato pie), Clif Grandy (Cajun green beans, grilled merli-ton ratatouille, okra stew, blackened shrimp, whipped sweetpotatoes, and rice), Meredith Hofford (pecan pie), HubertJones (fried catfish), Jed Miller (potato salad and macaronisalad), Marie Robertson (pralines), Laura Reed (chickengumbo and rice), Vivian Smith (bread pudding), DebraStokes (Cajun fried turkey), Denise Robinson (chicken bigmamou and gumbo), Greg Taylor (chili), and DavidTedhams (jambalaya). Cheryl Bailey, Dennis Shipley, andLisa VanDeVeer assembled muffuletta sandwiches.

All of the cook-off chefs demonstrated creativityand created dishes with a dramatic presentation and deli-cious taste. Many of the dishes were based upon treasuredfamily recipes. In light of such tough competition, theCEERF cook-off judges declared all of the dishes as win-ners and recognized each of the chefs with small tokens ofappreciation.

On December 14, 2005, CEERF presented gift checksto hurricane victim families. Jean Jordan, of the D.C. Court ofAppeals, accepted a check on the behalf of her sister and broth-er-in-law, Mary and Ernest Bailey. Karen Archer, of theSuperior Court’s Criminal Division, accepted a check on thebehalf of her daughter Renita Bostic and her family. Her otherdaughter, Angela Archer, accepted a check on behalf of her fam-ily and her grandmother, Cecile Woods.

Jean Jordan said that she is grateful she did not lose anyrelatives to the flooding. Her sister, Mary Bailey, was in BatonRouge on Saturday, August 27, 2005 and Mary’s husband,Ernest, remained in New Orleans not wanting to leave for thepredicted hurricane.Sunday morning, Maryattempted to joinErnest in New Orleans,but the highways to thecity were closed. OnSunday night, Ernestdecided to leave, butby then it was too latebecause a curfew wasin effect. When Ernestwent to bed Mondayevening, water wasalready in the house tohis ankles. Later, hewas awakened bywater in his bed.

Ernest sawedthrough the attic to the roof, where he stayed for three days. Hehas diabetes, but he was able to survive without his medication.He witnessed corpses and dead animals floating in the watersaround the house. The water was infested with alligators aswell. The Baileys’ house was under water for two weeks.

CEERF members with Jean Jordan.

Clif Grandy, CEERF chair; Angela Archer, Karen Archer’sdaughter; Karen Archer; and Cyril Erugo.

Jean Jordan (right) and her sister MaryBailey.

Continued on page 5.

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Mary has relocated to theD.C. area and is looking forwork. In New Orleans sheworked in a hospital operatingroom. Ernest said he was too coldin Washington and he hasreturned to Louisiana where he isliving with relatives.

When Mary got the giftfrom the D.C. Courts, sheexpressed great appreciation.Jean says that she herself is mostappreciative because she realizesthat her coworkershad no obligation,but gave nonethe-less.

KarenArcher is a super-visor in theCriminal Divisionwho has worked atthe Superior Courtsince July 2004.She said that heraunt, who was in aNew Orleans nurs-ing home and dependent on afeeding tube, did not survive thedisaster. All of Karen’s other rel-atives survived. Karen’s house-hold now has four generationsunder its roof: her mother,Karen, her daughter and hergranddaughter!

Before Katrina, Karen’sdaughter Angela worked for aninsurance company. She and hernine year old daughter, A’Jon,lived with her grandmother,Cecile Woods, who needed com-panionship. Hurricane Katrina flooded their New Orleanshome with eight feet of water. Hurricane Rita flooded itagain, this time with five feet of water.

Cecile, Angela, and A’Jon evacuated before Katrinacame ashore. Now living with Karen in the D.C. area,A’Jon is enrolled in Nativity Academy School and is doingwell; Angela is looking for work. Because Angela was nei-ther a homeowner nor a renter, she did not qualify for assis-

tance beyond the initial $2,000. Thishas been a source of frustration for herand she is very appreciative of theCEERF gift.

Karen Archer’s other daughter,Renita Bostic, her husband, Michael,and their two children, Donice andDeSean, as well as Michael’s mother,Helen Bostic, are now living inHampton, Virginia with Michael’s sis-ter. A week after relocating, Michael, apostal carrier, was able to start work-

ing with the U.S.Postal Service inHampton. Renita isa chemist and islooking for employ-ment.

Karen saysthat the childrenseem to be moreresilient than theadults and haveadjusted well totheir new environ-ments. The coldweather, however,is a new experience

for everyone. Everyone missestheir much loved New Orleans cui-sine.

Karen is deeply touched byher extended Court family and feelscloser than ever to everyone. She isa private person, but she let it beknow that the Katrina disaster wasmore than she could quietly sufferthrough and that she needed sup-port. She says that the Court fami-ly has come through. Her motherand daughters were overwhelmed

and cried when she called to inform them that CEERF had giftchecks for them.

Since the economic disruptions caused by the hurri-canes and the subsequent flooding continues, CEERF is contin-uing to accept donations, which will be distributed in 2006 aftera new round of applications have been accepted.

The Bailey family SUV Bailey family living room

Bailey family dining room

Bailey family kitchen

Cont. from page 4.

Court employees may find out more about the CEERF at

http://dccweb.dcsc.gov/opencms/export/herf/index.html.

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D.C. COURTS CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHBy Carrie Newton Lyons, Law Clerk, D.C. Court of Appeals

On November 14, 2005, theD.C. Courts held their first celebrationof Native American Heritage Month, anationally-recognized month to high-light and honor the contributions ofNative Americans. Mr. LawrenceBaca, a member of the Pawnee nationand the Deputy Director of the Officeof Tribal Justice, Department ofJustice (DOJ), spoke at the event. Heis the senior Native American attorneyat DOJ and the first Native Americanhired into the DOJ Honors Program.

Mr. Baca spoke to about 30attendees of the brown bag eventabout numerous issues facing NativeAmericans today. He focused on legal

issues such as the intersection of tribalcourts and tribal justice with federaland state courts. When Mr. Baca was ayouth in California, he lived in townsthat prohibited Native Americans fromentering restaurants and stores. Heremarked that although progress hasbeen made with regard to the treatmentof Native Americans, further progressis needed, especially with regard toNative Americans in the legal profes-sion.

Mr. Baca also noted that theSupreme Court has considered morecases concerning issues of federalIndian law than any other area of law.Nevertheless, he said, federal Indian

law is still rarely taught in law schoolsand is not regarded as an importantfield. Mr. Baca finds this odd sinceIndians are the only racial or ethnicgroup specifically mentioned in theU.S. Constitution. Finally, Mr. Bacacommented on the Indian ChildWelfare Act (ICWA), a statute whichrequires that courts acknowledge trib-al sovereignty and the importance ofpreserving Indian culture by allowingIndians preference in the child cus-tody proceedings of Indian children.After the presentation, several atten-dees asked Mr. Baca questions aboutfederal Indian law and policy.

On November 4, 2005, the Family Treatment Courtheld its 5th graduation ceremony to recognize the mothersand female guardians who completed the program. Familyand friends gathered together to celebrate the accomplish-ments of the graduates. Judge Lee Satterfield, then-Presiding Judge of the Family Court, and Judge AnitaJosey-Herring, now Presiding Judge of the Family Courtand the Family Treatment Court judge, presided over theceremony. Brenda Donald Walker, Deputy Mayor forChildren, Youth, Families and Elders gave remarks.

The Family Treatment Court is a year-long compre-hensive and residential substance abuse treatment programfor mothers and female guardians whose children are thesubject of child neglect allegations. Participants spend thefirst six months of the program living in a treatment facilitywith their children. The treatment facility offers on-site andcommunity-based services,such as sub-stance abuseeducation, par-enting skillsworkshops,counseling, andchildcare. Theprogram pro-vides a uniqueopportunity foreach mother to

receive treat-ment withoutbeing separatedfrom her chil-dren. Up to fourchildren underthe age of 11can live withtheir motherduring the treat-ment.

Oncethe participantcompletes in-

patient treatment she moves to community-based aftercare,administered by the D.C. Addiction Recovery andPrevention Administration. The aftercare includes helpingprogram participants obtain employment, housing, and edu-cational opportunities.

The November graduates were proud of theiraccomplishments and appreciative of the support theyreceived from the program staff, Judge Josey-Herring, andthe many family members in attendance at the ceremony.Several speakers gave tribute to Judge Josey-Herring, whowill no longer preside over the Family Treatment Court pro-gram since she will be busy in 2006 as Presiding Judge ofthe Family Court.

Congratulations to the program participants on theirhard work!

FAMILY TREATMENT COURT GRADUATION HELD IN NOVEMBERBy Meredith J. Saladyga, Executive Office Intern

The procession out of the graduation ceremony -- All smiles!

Jo-Ella Brooks, Family Treatment Court ProgramCoordinator, congratulates the graduates.

longtime media-tor at Multi-Door, spokebriefly andthanked theCourt for itsappreciation ofthe volunteers’efforts. ActingDirector KarenLeichtnam rec-ognized the workof the Division’smediators and

distributed certificates to those nowactive in the Division’s various media-tion programs.

Following the program, media-tors, Multi-Door staff, judges, and guestsenjoyed refreshments, conversation,memories, and gratitude.

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The Multi-Door Dispute ResolutionDivision celebrated its 20th anniversary at aDecember 9, 2005 reception honoring itscorps of volunteer mediators. Despitesomewhat tricky weather conditions, anintrepid group of more than 50 mediatorswas on hand in the Jurors’ Lounge for a cer-emony that rec-ognized theirmany contribu-tions to thecourt, attorneys,parties in dis-putes, and thecommunity atlarge.

After awarm welcomefrom Clerk ofthe CourtDuane Delaney,

MULTI-DOOR CELEBRATES TWENTY YEARSBy Wallace Meissner, Civil Training Manager, Multi-Door Division

Superior Court ChiefJudge Rufus King thankedthe mediators for theirservice and emphasizedthe larger role they play inrepairing and strengthen-ing the often frayed con-

nectionsbetween peopleinvolved in liti-gation. Henoted that manywho find them-selves in thecourthouse are peoplewith troubles, and thatmediation frequentlyenables them to reachoutcomes that can betterserve their interests.

Sig Cohen, a

Family Court Mediators Lisa Goingsand John King talk over dessert.

Chief Judge King talks to Billie Jo Garcia,Family Mediation Case Manager.

The D.C. Courts are always pleased to have young peoplecome to learn about the law and the judicial process. Judge AnnaBlackburne-Rigsby and several colleagues have welcomed a num-ber of groups recently. Judge Blackburne-Rigsby hosted four sep-arate student groups in her courtroom last summer. On June 21stnearly 40 students from theNAACP Youth Council observed amedical malpractice trial and wereable to ask the judge and the attor-neys questions about the case. TheNAACP Youth Council enjoyedmeeting all of the legal profession-als, such as the courtroom clerk,court reporter and attorneysinvolved in the case. On June 23rd,30 students from across the countrywho were participating in the JuniorStatesmen Foundation Program andhad identified law as their chosenprofession joined JudgeBlackburne-Rigsby in her courtroom to learn more about the judi-cial process and ask questions about attending law school and thelegal profession. On July 13th, 40 students from the National BarAssociation Crump Law Camp observed portions of a trial andhad the opportunity to ask questions. One student from the CrumpLaw Camp commented that the experience taught her “how tointeract in a court proceeding.” On July 28th, Judge Blackburne-Rigsby welcomed students from the D.C. Government’s SummerYouth Employment Program to her courtroom, where she spoke

with them about the D.C. Superior Court and the importance ofsetting goals for their future.

In the fall, Judge Blackburne-Rigsby was pleased to wel-come 90 honors students from Paul Public Charter School onOctober 26, 2005. The school’s mission is to educate students to

be responsible citizens, inde-pendent thinkers, and communi-ty leaders. The students had anopportunity to observe proceed-ings before Judge WendellGardner, Judge GregoryJackson, Judge Zinora Mitchell-Rankin, Judge Robert Rigsby,and Judge James Boasberg.Following their observations inthe courtrooms, the students metwith Judge Blackburne-Rigsbyand participated in a questionand answer session. Based onletters that the students sent fol-

lowing their visit, they were quite impressed that each of thejudges had welcomed them into their courtrooms. One studentcommented in her letter “I enjoyed the question and answer periodbecause it was very motivational and high spirited. I learned thata certain type of judge can only give a 180 day sentence [misde-meanor judges], which was very interesting.” Another studentcommented, “The judges were very nice and encouraging in try-ing to help us maintain a good life.”

STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE LAWBy LaVerne Boone, Judicial Administrative Assistant

Students from Paul Public Charter School; Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and Judge Robert Rigsby.

Page 8

to arriving at the Courts, Crystal wasan Assistant District Attorney inPhiladelphia for ten years, as well asthe owner of a legal search firm.Looking to apply her knowledge andexperience to another side of the law,Crystal found her place in the Courts.With her experience from judicialclerkships, partnered with her years inprosecution, she has found a perfect

fit coordinating judicial training.When asked what she enjoys

the most about her job, Crystal quicklyresponds with “the opportunity to workwith all different types of people.” Aself-described “people person,” Crystalenjoys working in a law-related field.She is also pleased that she has gottento know her co-workers so well in herfirst few months at the Courts.

Outside of the workday,Crystal’s family is the main focus ofher life. She is married to a chiroprac-tor with a practice in the District, andshe has a 13 year-old son, whodescribes her as a “cool mom.” Crystalloves living in D.C. and experiencingthe various cultures that come with thearea. She also enjoys all kinds of danc-ing – so look out for her at the nextCourt celebration! Welcome to theCourts, Crystal!

Within the halls of the GalleryPlace offices, there is a small (butmighty!) group of individuals thatmake up the Center for Education andTraining. The newest member of thishardworking group is Crystal Banks,Assistant Director for JudicialTraining. Crystal coordinates classesand training opportunities for courtemployees and managers as well aseducation seminars for judges of theD.C. Courts.

Raised in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, Crystal attendedAmherst College in Massachusettsbefore receiving a J.D. from TempleLaw School. After spending time inGeorgia and Florida, Crystal foundherself in D.C., and now with theD.C. Courts. This position isCrystal’s first on the courthouse sideof legal operations, but certainly nother first in the legal profession. Prior

EMPLOYEE PROFILE – CRYSTAL L. BANKSNEW FACE IN CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

By Meredith J. Saladyga, Executive Office Intern

Crystal L. Banks

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISIONACHIEVES NOTABLE CERTIFICATION

By Meredith J. Saladyga, Executive Office Intern

Congratulations to the I.T. Division for gaining certification and recognition on several levels ofthe Software Engineering Institute’s Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI), a best practice stan-dard for efficient software and systems engineering practices in I.T. departments. The Division reachedits most recent goal of achieving “Level 2” certification, which requires the Courts’ I.T. policies, proce-dures, and practices to meet guidelines in seven areas necessary for system operation. These include howthe Courts manage quality and account for I.T. assets. The Division also gained recognition in Level 3,which involves areas such as Project Management and Project Monitoring. What this means to the D.C.Courts is that the I.T. Division can now apply the techniques it used for IJIS to make other projects equal-ly as successful. The I.T. Division is committed to continually improving information technology deliv-ery throughout the D.C. Courts. The D.C. Courts’ I.T. Division is most likely the first court unit of itskind to accomplish CMMI certification. The achievements are the result of nearly three years of hardwork on the part of Ken Foor, I.T. Director, and his dedicated teammates in the I.T. Division.

Page 9

leadership as the Chair of the National Conference ofState Trial Judges. The list, which officially debuted inJanuary 2006, is a companion to the existing “500Leading Lawyers in America.”

Magistrate Judge Karen Howze was an awardrecipient at the Second Annual Awards Celebration heldby The Quality Trust, an organization designed to assistDistrict residents with developmental disabilities. Theaward recognizes Judge Howze’s dedication to legaladvocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities.

SEASON OF HONORSBy Meredith J. Saladyga, Executive Office Intern

The new legal magazine Lawdragon recentlynamed Superior Court Chief Judge Rufus King and JudgeHerbert Dixon to its inaugural list of the “500 LeadingJudges in America.” Both judges were chosen fromapproximately 20,000 nominees submitted by their peers inthe legal profession, based on factors such as fairness andthe operation of their courtrooms. Lawdragon featuredJudge Dixon on the “Trivia” portion of its website, which iscurrently featuring a judge each day by giving a piece oftrivia information to help readers guess the judge associatedwith the clue – Judge Dixon’s clue recognized him for his

Shirley Justis, Deputy Clerk in Case Management, received the BethuneAchievers Award from the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW),Mid-Atlantic Region, on Sunday, October 2, 2005.

Shirley, a life member and current active member of the NCNW, D.C.Section 2, works to assist women and families in the greater Northeast andSoutheast areas of the District through programs such as Thanksgiving basket dis-tribution and community educational seminars. Shirley has dedicated more thanten years of community service to help enhance the quality of life for the commu-nity. In addition to the Bethune Achievers Award, Shirley recently receivedCertificates of Appreciation for her duties as Assistant Recording Secretary andmember of both the Benevolence and Telephone Committees for D.C. Section 2.

Congratulations, Shirley, for your dedication to the community!

REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITYBy Meredith J. Saladyga, Executive Office Intern

Page 10

Kelly Williams Brown joinedthe Courts in June 2005 as aCourtroom Clerk in the Civil Division.Raised in southern Maryland, Kellyreceived a Bachelor of Arts fromWinston-Salem State University andattended Old Dominion University forgraduate studies. Prior to working atthe Courts, Kelly taught elementaryschool in the District and in Norfolk, Virginia. She chose ajob at the Courts as a “new challenge” and to expand hercareer. Daily interaction with judges, attorneys, and fellowcourt staff, as well as the “challenge of learning the manydifferent aspects of the courtroom” are the parts of Kelly’sposition that she most enjoys.

When not at the courthouse, Kelly enjoys spendingtime with her family, her husband of almost nine years andtheir two daughters, attending church, and engaging in out-door activities, such as going to parks. She loves to bakeand make crafts with artificial flowers. Kelly also plans toreturn to school in the near future to complete her Master’sDegree in Urban Studies, with an emphasis on mediation,her particular interest in the field.Welcome, Kelly!

Makisha J. Wiley began asAdministrative Assistant to ChiefFinancial Officer Anthony Rainey inMay 2005. Originally fromMilwaukee, Wisconsin, Makishaattended the University of Maryland.Prior to coming to the Courts,Makisha was a Secretary at Marine Corps Headquarters, aProgram Assistant at the National Institutes of Health, and aSenior Project Assistant at the National Academy ofSciences. Makisha came to the Courts to “cultivate other

NEW EMPLOYEES JOIN THE COURTSBy Meredith J. Saladyga, Executive Office Intern

areas of interest” as well as to achieve personal academicand career goals. Makisha noted that her favorite part ofher job is working with her co-workers. Welcome aboard,Makisha!

Gloria Blumenthaljoined the Courts last fall as abilingual Courtroom Clerk.Born and raised in Vázquez deCoronado, a small town in SanJosé, Costa Rica, Gloria studiedat the University of Costa Ricaand the Manuel María de PeraltaInstitute for Foreign Service atthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Costa Rica. She alsograduated from the Paralegal Studies Program atGeorgetown University in September 2005.

Gloria worked in several different fields beforesettling in at the Courts. From 1992 to 2002, she workedfor the Costa Rican government. In 2002, she taught civiceducation and American government and politics to mid-dle and high school students at the Close Up Foundation,a non-profit organization. Gloria came to the Courts withthe desire to help “all the people who do business here,”as she has a wealth of related academic and professionalknowledge, in addition to fluency in both Spanish andEnglish. Gloria notes that not only is she able to con-tribute to the community, but that she is presented eachday with “new opportunities to learn and improve.”Enjoying the challenges of her new position, Gloria isgrateful to the other Courtroom Clerks for their assistanceand patience and to the judges for their support and theopportunity to work with them.

Outside of the Courts, Gloria loves learning in allways, including from movies, concerts, and good books.Bienvenida, Gloria!

On October 13, 2005, Magistrate Judge FredSullivan met with 5th grade students from ParkviewElementary School and spoke to them about court opera-tions. The event was part of “Project Legal Enrichmentand Decision-Making” (L.E.A.D.), a curriculum for fifth-grade students in the District, which is taught by teamsof prosecutors and staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.The Project L.E.A.D. curriculum is designed to educatechildren about the effects of criminal activity such asdrug use and theft, and the program is taught in morethan a dozen District elementary schools.

Photo courtesy of Kathleen O’Connor.

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The crane is up and the concrete is going down! The most visible of the Courts’ construction projects is surely thenew garage for the Old Courthouse. It is hard to miss, with a 133-foot tall crane, construction fence, cement trucks, and alarge hole in the ground. At the corner of 5th Street and Indiana Avenue, approximately 5,000 truckloads of dirt wereremoved to create the garage, which is scheduled to be complete later this year. The new garage will provide secure park-ing for the D.C. Court of Appeals judges and staff, and for the judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Itwill also replace the parking that was lost to the north of the Old Courthouse due to the renovation and expansion of thebuilding. In the future, other surface parking lots will be replaced by underground garages to return Judiciary Square to thepark-like green space it was intended to be.

Only slightly less visible is the renovation work in Building A, constructed in the late 1930’s. The Courts arereplacing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, including installation of new ductwork; upgrading the plumb-ing; adding sprinklers; and upgrading the fire alarm and security systems. The interior space is being renovated and recon-figured to house the Multi-Door and Probate Divisions. Before each division relocates, court staff work with the architectsand planners to review layouts and ensure that the newly constructed office space is efficient and meets the needs of theCourts and the public. Phase One of the renovation is scheduled to be finished in September 2006, when four civil court-rooms become operational and the Multi-Door Division moves in. In Phase Two, the third floor will be renovated andreconfigured for the Probate Division. Expected occupancy for Probate is Spring 2007.

The largest of the Courts’ capital projects is the restoration of the Old Courthouse at 451 Indiana Avenue for theD.C. Court of Appeals. Asbestos and lead have been removed, preparing the building for major construction activities.Procurement is in progress to select the construction firm and award the contract. Once renovation begins, it is expected totake two years to complete. This architectural jewel and historic landmark will be restored to its original character; at thesame time it will be readapted for use by a modern court. The Old Courthouse will have a new entrance facing E Street tomeet modern standards for public access and security. A new underground courtroom below the existing main portico willaccommodate heavily attended ceremonial proceedings. The Old Courthouse was built in stages beginning in 1820. Thelast major renovation was in 1916.

In late January 2006, the Courts began to repair and upgrade the secure corridors in the Moultrie Courthouse.Renovation will include lighting, fire and security, and replacement of flooring, wall coverings, and ceilings. The work willproceed two floors at a time, beginning with the 1st and 3rd floors. It is anticipated that the 3rd floor will be done in May2006. The entire project will take 2 1/2 years.

Congratulations to the Capital Projects Team for managing these major construction projects!

FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS AND CONSTRUCTION UPDATEMarie Robertson, Senior Court Manager, Executive Office

December 15, 2005Duane B. DelaneyClerk of the CourtD.C. Superior Court500 Indiana Avenue, NWWashington, D.C. 20001

Re: Performance of Mr. Nathanial Speight

Dear Mr. Delaney:

This letter is being written to commend the performance and attitude ofNathaniel Speight, the Small Claims Courtroom Clerk. As you are aware, Mr.Speight and I had been working together several days a week for a number ofyears. Mr. Speight has been single-handedly controlling the docket, as well aslawyers, pro se litigants and their witnesses with good humor and a firm hand.Mr. Speight has handled these responsibilities with efficiency and profession-alism.As we have discussed in the past, I have always thought of Small ClaimsCourt as a true “people’s court.” This court gives all litigants an opportunity tohave their differences heard by an impartial mediator or judicial officer. Formost litigants, this may be the first time that they are faced with the vagariesand intricacies of the court. Whether a litigant wins or loses may not be theonly memory they walk away with from their day in court. They will alsoremember how they were treated by the courtroom staff and with Mr. Speightthey will leave at the end of the day knowing they were treated with fairnessand competency.

Sincerely yours,

Bruce H. Cherkis

OOOOO Rave Reviews OOOOO

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-—Original Message—From: Margaret DuvalSent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 4:32 PMTo:Subject: Thank you

Hi, Terry-

1 just wanted to let you know about the outstanding service I received while Iwas working at the Landlord Tenant Resource Center today. Not once, buttwice, the Resource Center served customers whose evictions were actuallytaking place while we were speaking with them. Both times we ran down to theClerk’s Office to file applications to stay the writs, and in both cases the clerksbehind the counter gave us immediate attention even though they were obvi-ously very busy. In the midst of two very tense situations, it was nice toencounter that kind of professionalism.

Please pass my appreciation on to your colleagues.

Best,Margaret R. DuvalSupervising AttorneyDC Bar Pro Bono Program1250 H Street, NWWashington, DC 20005

Washington, DC 20005January 3, 2006Mr. James HollandCourt Reporting DivisionSuperior Court of the District of Columbia500 Indiana Avenue, NW Room 5500Washington, DC 20001

Dear Mr. Holland:It is not often that I get to write these kinds of letters of appreciation and

thanks, but this one is well-deserved. I have to write to tell you how pleased andimpressed I was by the help I received from Bryant Baldorado. He certainly wentout of his way to find the transcripts that I was looking for (having almost no infor-mation!) and also initiated contact with me to keep me informed of the progress onobtaining my request. He’s really one in a million!

On November 23, 2005,1 came to the Court Reporting Office to see if Icould find a transcript of the closing arguments of a case that my dad was involvedin a long time ago. The only information I had was the case number. No dates, nojudge’s name, no case name. The first person I encountered in Room 5500 wasincredibly unhelpful. She sent me downstairs to a computer room that only hadrecent cases on it. I went back upstairs and, thankfully, was greeted by Bryant. Iagain said what I was looking for and somehow he found the name of the case, thejudge, the reporter, and even the proceeding date. He was pleasant and informativeas he helped me fill out my request form. Then I paid and he made a copy of myrequest for me to keep in case there were any problems.

As I said, it’s really rare to find a person that is truly service-oriented.Most people I have encountered over the years, whether it be a customer serviceagent at my credit card company or a service technician fixing an appliance, areunfriendly, unhelpful, or both when it comes to solving a problem so I try to go outof my way to be sure those that are exceptional get recognized. So, here’s to Bryant!Sincerely,

Stefanie B.