Comments on DC Home Rule almost had... the Mayor picking judges - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by jeffrey davis

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:07:30 EDT

I second Bob's comments about allowing the D.C. mayor to nominate judges. My understanding is that the D.C. Superior Court, including salaries is funded by the federal government. So, shouldn't the federal govenment have some imput about selecting judges? Some might say that the courts and prosecutor should be locally funded. Where is the money to operate the courts and prosecutor in the D.C. budget? Would anyone want the D.C. Superior Court working as well as say, ambulance service in this city?

Comment by John D.

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:34:07 EDT

I second the comments. Thanks for the series, David. It's a service to D.C. to have this stuff around and accessible. Plus, it's not always riveting to weed through legislative history!

Comment by JimT

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:14:36 EDT

This is really good.

As a very small aside, when you say Attorney General Elliot Richardson, who would resign that year in the Watergate scandal..., some might be left with the impression that Richardson was one of the perpetrators who resigned. Actually he resigned in protest rather than assist in the coverup.

Comment by dcdriver

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:12:24 EDT

I know of one "judge" appointed by the DC Govt. That maniac Administrative Law Judge who sued the dry cleaners over the loss of his pants. If I remember, it wasn't all that easy to get rid of him either.

By the way, in much of the country state and local judges are elected which opens up all sorts of problems.

Comment by Jimmy

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:42:29 EDT

Thanks for this series, David! Interesting stuff.

Comment by Bob

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:16:34 EDT

Can you imagine the quality of DC judges if that were just another patronage vehicle open to DC mayors? Just imagine the judges Marion Barry would have put on the bench! OMG. Despite the overall inadequacies of home rule, the present system of picking judges and the fact that it is the US Attorney's office that serves as local prosecutor yields a certain quality of DC criminal justice system that has historically been lacking in other local services.

Comment by John Muller

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:15:49 EDT

From looking at DC from the Civil War until 1900 it appears that many of the members of the "DC Supreme Court" were former Congressman. Example, Chief Justice David K. Cartter was appointed by Lincoln and served from 1863 until his death in 1887.

This is great research you've done, David.