UPDATES FROM THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

The Committee on the Judiciary is responsible for any legislation related to criminal, civil, and administrative law in the District of Columbia. It also oversees all of the District’s public safety agencies, and conducts hearings to hold agencies and their directors accountable for performance and spending.  Click on the Committee page for more information.


 

2.24.12 - Judiciary Committee to Hold Performance Hearings on Agencies

Beginning on Friday, February 24, 2012, Councilmember Mendelson, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, will hold performance oversight hearings on all agencies under the Committee's purview.  These annual hearings kick off on February 24th for the Committee, with additional hearings on Wednesday, February 29th and Friday, March 7th.  For a listing of what agencies will appear before the Committee on each hearing date see the list of hearings at right.  Additional hearings to discuss the proposed budget for each agency will take place following release of the Mayor's budget proposal on March 23, 2012.

To find out more information on these hearings, or to sign up to testify, please contact the Committee.


1.30.12 - Mendelson Schedules Hearing on Two Gun Bills

On Monday, January 30, 2012, the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on two firearm related measures.  The first, the "Gun Offender Pretrial Detention and Supervision Act of 2011" (Bill 19-485), would amend Chapter 13 of Title 23 of the District of Columbia Official Code to require that a person charged with any firearm related offense shall wear a detection device pending trial, and to require pretrial detention for any individual who commits a firearm related offense while on release pending trial, imposition or execution of a sentence or an appeal, or while on probation, parole, or supervised release.  The second bill, the "Firearms Amendment Act of 2011" (Bill 19-614), would amend the firearms laws of the District of Columbia to define “firearm instructor” and allow a person to temporarily possess a firearm while participating in a firearms training and safety course; to clarify that the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the District’s firearms laws is a one-time requirement per applicant; to repeal the requirement for a vision test; to repeal the requirement that each pistol be submitted for ballistic identification as part of the registration process; to harmonize various provisions in the laws pertaining to firearms; and to make other technical corrections and clarifications. 

The hearing will begin at 11:00am in the Council Chamber.  Contact the Committee to sign up to testify at the hearing.


1.10.12 - Mendelson Moves Bill to Fill Gap in District's Divorce Statute

On Tuesday, January 10, 2012, Councilmember Mendelson, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, marked up legislation to remedy a gap in the law in order to provide equal access to the legal process for dissolving a marriage.  Bill 19-526, the "Civil Marriage Dissolution Equality Amendment Act of 2012," amends the law to permit a same-sex couple to obtain a divorce in the District where the marriage was performed here and neither party resides in a jurisdiction that will maintain such an action.  The law currently requires that a person be a bona fide resident of the District for 6 months before they can maintain an action for divorce.  For many persons that were married in the District but reside elsewhere, this does not present a significant hurdle, as the jurisdiction where they currently reside will maintain an action for divorce.  For same-sex couples that reside in a jurisdiction unwilling to recognize the underlying marriage, however, and with a residency requirement for obtaining a divorce in the District, there no legal mechanism to dissolve an unsuccessful marriage.

Bill 19-526 provides such a mechanism by amending the residency requirement for the District's divorce statute.  The legislation remedies a gap in the law that has resulted in the District being "ahead of the historical curve" with regard to marriage equality.  First reading before the Council on Bill 19-526 will take place at the February 7, 2012 Legislative Meeting.     


 

---

PHIL IN THE NEWS

11.10.11 - Mendelson fields testimony: Hate-crime hearing draws activists and police - and differing perspectives (Metro Weekly)
Throughout the hearing, Mendelson asked the witnesses, including Lanier, for reasons for a possible increase in violence, but none could provide a definitive answer.

11.7.11 - Pick to lead D.C.'s 911 agency pledges to fix morale, service (Washington Times)
“I think you’re in a position to be heavy-handed here, and I think you should be with the carriers," Mr. Mendelson said [of the need to address the long-standing problem of 911 calls from Northwest bouncing off cell towers in Montgomery County and landing with dispatchers in Maryland instead of the District].

11.3.11 - Hate crimes on the rise; no one knows why (WTOP)
Councilmember Phil Mendelson, chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, called a hate crimes hearing in response to recent attacks against members of the transgender community. He expressed a deep desire to understand why they are happening and what can be done to prevent them.

 

For News Archives - Click Here.

 

---

NEWSLETTERS

To sign up for Phil's "At-Large Update," click here to send us an e-mail and be added to the distribution list.

February 24, 2010
    - The Sosua Fire Truck
    - Another Constituent Services Success Story
    - Upcoming Committee Hearings

Click here for Newsletter Archives