Members of the bench, bar, and public are hereby notified by the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (the “Commission”) that a vacancy on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (“Court of Appeals”) will occur as a result of the retirement of the Honorable John R. Fisher, effective August 22, 2020, and that it is starting the application process anew for the Court of Appeals vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Kathryn A. Oberly, effective December 15, 2013. The Commission invites qualified individuals to apply for these vacancies by 12 pm on Monday, February 24, 2020. See D.C. Code §§ 1-204.31, 1-204.33; D.C. Mun. Regs. tit 28 §§ 2103.8, 2103.11. Application materials, including instructions, are available on the Commission’s website: www.jnc.dc.gov.

On December 18, 2013, the Commission submitted to the President a list of three candidates for his consideration in selecting a nominee to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Oberly. On February 24, 2014, President Obama nominated Todd S. Kim, Esq., to fill this vacancy, and the Senate returned the nomination to the President on December 17, 2014. On April 30, 2015, President Obama re-nominated Mr. Kim to fill this vacancy, and the Senate returned the nomination to the President on January 3, 2017. No subsequent nomination for this vacancy has been made. Accordingly, pursuant to section 2103.11 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations, the list of three recommended candidates for the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Oberly is deemed expired, and the Commission is required to start the application process anew for this vacancy. 

All persons interested in applying for these judicial vacancies shall review and comply with the application instructions on the Commission’s website. Please note that the writing sample requirements for Court of Appeals vacancies were revised in December 2019; while applicants must continue to submit five writing samples, appellate briefs are no longer a necessary component of a complete application package.

Applicants shall submit both an original and a paper copy of their complete application materials to the Commission. Do not email application materials to the Commission or individual Commission members. Individuals who submitted the JNC Form 21 for a vacancy on a District of Columbia court within the twelve months preceding their application for one or both of the vacancies created by the retirements of Judges Fisher and Oberly may submit a short-form JNC Form 21A, with appropriate attachments.

All application materials and correspondence shall be addressed to: Judicial Nomination Commission, 515 Fifth Street, NW, Suite 235, Washington, DC 20001. All application materials must be received no later than 12 pm on February 24, 2020. Please note that the JNC Form 28, Certification of Eligibility, and the IRS Form 14767, were revised in November 2019. Late, incomplete, or outdated application materials will not be considered.

The Commission does not require letters of recommendation, letters of support, or endorsements, but it will accept them. Such letters must be received by the Commission no later than 5 pm on Friday, March 27, 2020. Consult the application instructions on the Commission‘s website for additional information on the procedures for submitting letters.

Questions concerning the application process for these judicial vacancies shall be directed to the Commission at (202) 879-0478 or [email protected]. If you have questions about the application process, please participate in a JNC open conference call. Dates and dial-in information are on the Commission’s website.