Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024 - 23

FEATURE
checks, education and employment verification, review of disciplinary records,
and communication with the bars and courts where the applicants
are admitted. JNC members also may speak with the candidates' past and
present coworkers and colleagues.
JNC commissioners offer one-on-one conversations with applicants prior
to the mandatory panel interview, where the commission in full interviews
all candidates who meet the basic requirements, diving further into
their qualifications to determine their temperament, experience, and decision-making
skills. The commission will also circulate the names of the
candidates for public comment.
The commission then submits the strongest three candidates to the
White House, which, in turn, conducts its own review before the president
nominates one person for Senate confirmation.
" [A candidate] must be someone who can go through a very comprehensive
review, " says Johns, noting that scrutiny by the JNC is only the first
stage of the vetting process.
The commission seeks candidates with exemplary leadership and communication
skills, judicial temperament, commitment to fairness, and organizational
skills. Importantly, Wilson says, it looks for candidates who
express their authentic selves in their applications.
Wilson considers judges to be the keeper of their courts, and so candidates
must be ready and willing to take on the responsibilities that the
courts require. " We have so many cases that come out of our courts, and
we've come out of COVID with a great deal of work to do, " says Wilson.
Johns emphasizes that there is no one route to judgeship in the District
of Columbia. " Don't take yourself out of consideration because you don't
think you meet the path that it takes to be a judge, " says Johns. " The
paths are varied, and we believe that's what makes our courts stronger. "
Johns, who was appointed JNC chair in 2023, adds that the commission
has received applications from attorneys who have worked in nonprofits,
government agencies, and firms of all sizes. Johns encourages lawyers of
diverse backgrounds to apply.
1
JNC issues a notice
of vacancy.
2
Candidates
submit application
materials.
3
JNC reviews applicants,
submits three
recommendations
to White House.
The JNC process - from announcement of vacancy to recommendation
of candidates to the White House - takes roughly 15 weeks. The president
has 60 days to nominate a candidate, and there is no set time frame
for the Senate to act on the nomination.
BEYOND THE RÉSUMÉ
So, what must candidates disclose during the application process? " Everything, "
says Tracy Nutall, executive director of the commission, stressing
the importance of full transparency by applicants.
Beyond the basics, attorneys who want to become a judge in the District
of Columbia must show that they are an exemplar of the legal profession,
says Wilson. But first, Wilson urges any interested attorney to explore why
they want to become a judge and why they want to serve on the D.C.
Courts.
Wilson says applicants should take time to reflect on these questions, engaging
colleagues, mentors, and others in the process. " Talk to the judges
on the bench to get ideas, and ask questions to find out if the role is right
for you, " he says.
Community service, including pro bono work and charitable activities,
and a connection to District residents are also key elements that the JNC
will be looking for in a prospective judge, Wilson says. " We'd like to see
their understanding of the District of Columbia - of the people who live
and work here and who appear before our courts every day with their
challenges, " he says.
4
President vets
candidates,
nominates one.
5
Senate holds
confirmation
hearing(s).
6
New judge is
sworn in.
Nutall advises applicants to take time to ensure their submissions are
complete and thorough, but also to not wait until the last minute to submit
their applications. " This is not a secret process, " says Nutall. " We can
make ourselves available to review candidates' [applications] for completeness
before they submit. "
In fact, the JNC is open to answering questions and providing assistance
to applicants. " We think it's quite an important part of our mission to be
visible and to talk about the process, " Johns says. " So, when vacancies do
become available, people have an understanding of what it takes to be
a good candidate. "
Not making the cut on their first try should not be the end of the road for
judicial hopefuls - the JNC encourages unsuccessful candidates to update
their applications and reapply for future vacancies.
" Our commissioners work very hard to listen to each other and make certain
we give each applicant a real chance, " says Wilson.
For more information about the Judicial Nomination Commission, visit
https://jnc.dc.gov.
Jeffery Leon is a legal journalist based in Washington, D.C.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024 * WASHINGTON LAWYER 23
https://jnc.dc.gov
Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024

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