On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, the Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure for the District of Columbia (“the Commission”) resolved a disciplinary matter and investigation involving Hon. Melvin R. Wright, Senior Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The conduct at issue involved, among other things, use of court resources for extrajudicial activities and misuse of the prestige of the judicial office. Specifically, the Commission censured Judge Wright through a “Determination and Undertaking,” finding that Judge Wright’s conduct violated the Code of Judicial Conduct for the District of Columbia, Canon 1, Rule 1.1 (Compliance with Law), Rule 1.2 (Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary) and Rule 1.3 (Avoiding Abuse of the Prestige of Judicial Office), Canon 3 (Personal and Extrajudicial Activity), and Rule 3.1 (Extrajudicial Activities in General). The Commission’s determinations and observations on the resolution, including its acknowledgement of Judge Wright’s full cooperation and remediation, as well as his otherwise distinguished career, are publicly available on its website.

As the Commission wrote in its resolution, the Commission reached its resolution “based on: (i) the totality of the circumstances, (ii) the harm to both the public, the Bar, and the judiciary when a judge misuses the prestige of the judicial office and/or improperly uses court resources for personal gain, even if unintentional; (iii) the importance of recognizing how even a negligent or careless crossing of the line can evolve into potentially more serious ethical mishaps; (iv) the fact that certain remediation concerns can only be accomplished with public notice, (v) the importance of awareness for the DC Courts, the Bar, and the public; (vi) deterrence of similar conduct in the future; and (vii) restoring and maintaining the public’s trust in our courts.”

Given the facts in the Judge Wright matter and, unrelated to Judge Wright, other concerns or events that have come to the Commission’s attention in recent years and the current public discourse, the Commission took two additional steps:

1. The Commission issued a Public Letter to the Chief Judges of the DC Courts, signed by all Commissioners, recommending additional training and awareness on the ethical rules that apply to DC Court judges in their personal and extrajudicial activities more broadly. The Commission has a very high regard for the DC Courts, its leadership, and its judges. The Commission believes it is appropriate for courts to remain aware and vigilant, in conduct on and off the bench, to maintain their actual and perceived neutrality, remain attentive to the roles they have undertaken, avoid the appearance of impropriety, and always maintain the dignity of the judicial office. The Commission’s Public Letter is available on its website.

2. The Commission unanimously approved a Resolution to amend Commission Rule 2037.2, which will require increased transparency with the Commission on certain activities during the senior judge fitness review process to assure appropriate reminders on ethical obligations are discussed. The Rule amendment is attached to the Commission’s Public Letter to the Chief Judges of the DC Courts and will soon be published in the District of Columbia Register.

The Commission takes these steps in accordance with its mission to maintain the greatest possible public confidence in the judiciary and to assure that judges continue to hold themselves to the highest ethical standards while being ever attentive to the fair and impartial administration of justice.

The members of the Commission are:

Hon. Colleen Kollar-Kotelly
Chairperson Hon. Diane M. Brenneman, Ret.,
Vice Chairperson Amy L. Bess,
Esq. Dr. Patrick G. Jackson
Nikki Sertsu
Thomas Fitton
William P. Lightfoot, Esq.

For more information on the Commission, you may contact the Commission’s office at (202) 727-1363 or [email protected], or you may visit the Commission’s website at | cjdt (dc.gov).