Issue Position: Norton Uses Her Senatorial Courtesy to Give Residents Say On Important Law Enforcement Officials

Issue Position

Congresswoman Norton used the senatorial courtesy that President Obama granted her to recommend major federal law enforcement officials for the District of Columbia. The President forwarded Norton's picks to the Senate, including for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald Machen and Isaac Fulwood for chair of the U.S. Parole Commission. The Senate has confirmed Norton's recommendations for U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia judges, Beryl A. Howell and Robert L. Wilkins, as well as Norton's recommendation for U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia, Edwin D. Sloane. The Republicans blocked Senate confirmation of all 15 nominees approved after the election by the Senate Judiciary Committee, including two of Norton's nominees, James "Jeb" E. Boasberg and Amy Berman Jackson.

Norton sought senatorial courtesy in order to enhance home rule by empowering District residents to help choose vital federal law enforcement officers, as other Americans sometimes do. She established a 17-member D.C. Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission consisting of lawyers and non-lawyers from all eight wards, which investigates and interviews candidates and sends her a group of the best, followed by interviews by Norton, who then makes her own selections. The commission members are: Pauline Schneider, chair; Jon Bouker; Katherine Broderick; Francis D. Carter; Emilio W. Cividanes; Thomas R. Donahue; Terence C. Golden; Dr. Charles Matthew Hudson, Jr.; Emma Coleman Jordan; Janet Murguia; Johnnie Scott Rice; Daniel Solomon; Robert Spagnoletti; Thomas Williamson; Beverly Perry; Carrie L. Thornhill; and Judith Winston.

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