Public Statements for the Criminal Law and Individual Rights Community

• January 23, 2023 Sponsor in support of the D.C. Council’s Review of Revised Criminal Code Act of 2021 (Bill 24-416)
•  October 28, 2011 Cosponsor of Statements in support of Segments of the Proposed Code of Judicial Conduct for the D.C. Courts on Accommodating Unrepresented Parties.
• December 8, 2010 Cosponsor Litigation Community Statement Opposing the Mayor's Recommendation to Cut $1.7 Million in Civil Legal Services.
• April 28, 2010 Cosponsor Statement by the Litigation Section opposing the Mayor's recommendation to cut $1 million in civil legal services and loan forgiveness.
• December 28, 2007 Opposition to the U.S. Department of Justice "McNulty Memorandum" and support for S. 186 and H.R.3013, bills aimed at protecting the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine in prosecuting a business organization.
• November 10, 2006 Opposition to proposed legislation reducing the number of peremptory challenges in felony trials at D.C. Superior Court
• November 9, 2006 Opposition to U.S. Department of Justice's Waiver Policy for the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine in Prosecuting a Business Organization
• October 12, 2000 Support of adequate funding for panel attorneys representing indigent defendants under the Criminal Justice Act.
• November 4, 1999 Support of increased funding for Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorneys.
• June 30, 1999 Nomination of James W. Klein as U.S. District Judge for D.C. **
• November 24, 1998 Statement in support of Robert L. Wilkins for the 1999 Roger Baldwin Medal of the ACLU. **
• September 30, 1998 Letter to Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, supporting confirmation of James Klein as U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia. (Restatement of June 30, 1998 Public Statement).
• June 30, 1998 Letter to Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, supporting confirmation of James Klein as U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia.
• May 11, 1998 Follow up letters to D.C. Council Members Evans, Chavous, Brazil, Thomas and Mason on the D.C. Truth-in-Sentencing Commission. **
• April 10, 1998 Letter to Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Chief Judge of the Superior Court, on the Need for Funding for District of Columbia Courts.
• December 19, 1997 Supplemental comments of William J. Mertens to the District of Columbia Truth-in-Sentencing Commission. **
• December 9, 1997 Oral statement of William J. Mertens, Chair of the Criminal Law and Individual Rights Community, before the District of Columbia Truth-in-Sentencing Commission.
• October 13, 1997 Follow up letter to Eric Holder, Chair of the D. C. Truth-in-Sentencing Commission, as it develops a proposed new Criminal Sentencing System for the District of Columbia. **
• September 10, 1997 Letter to Eric Holder, Chair of the D. C. Truth-in-Sentencing Commission, urging the Commission to encourage public participation as it develops a proposed new Criminal Sentencing System for the District of Columbia.
• July 26, 1996 Comments submitted to John Aldock, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Local Rules, by the Courts, Lawyers and the Administration of Justice Community AND the Criminal Law and Individual Rights Community regarding proposed Amendments to the Local Rule 311(h) of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
• July 11, 1995 Comments in a letter to Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, regarding exclusionary rule reform legislation.
• December 6, 1994 Comments in a letter to the members of the D.C. Council regarding funding for D.C.'s Early Intervention Program.
• December 2, 1994 Comments in a letter to Chairman Clarke and Councilperson Nathanson regarding Title III of Bill No. 10-87, The Anti-Sexual Abuse Amendment Act of 1994.
• October 25, 1994 Comments to the Committee on the Judiciary, Council of the District of Columbia, regarding The District of Columbia Nonviolent Offenses Mandatory-Minimum Sentences Amendment Act of 1994.
• May 14, 1993 Letter to Senator Joseph Biden endorsing the nomination of Drew Days for United States Solicitor General.
• April 23, 1993 Comments before the Committee on Self Determination, Council of the District of Columbia, regarding statehood for the District of Columbia.
• February 19, 1993 Comments in letter to Hon. Ricardo Urbina regarding proposed procedures for conduct of disciplinary hearings by the Superior Court Disciplinary Committee for Appointments under the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Act.
• February 2, 1993 Memorandum of Amici Curiae in Support of Defendant Eleanor Holmes Norton's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Application for Preliminary Injunction, Robert H. Michael, et al. v. Donald Y. Anderson, et al., Civil Action No. 93-0039.
• October 28, 1992 Comments on the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Fair Compensation Act of 1991, Bill 9-31, before the Committee on the Judiciary, Council of the District of Columbia. **
• September 30, 1992 Comments regarding an Amicus Curiae in the matter of Harvey v. Scott, No. 92 SP-695.
• July 30, 1992 Comments regarding an amicus brief in support of James Holloway in United States v. Roscoe.
• May 24, 1992 Comments regarding the Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992.
• April 24, 1992 Comments regarding proposed "Defense Practice Standards"
• February 12, 1992 Comments on the D.C. City Council Bill 9-360, the Bail Reform Amendment Act of 1991.
• October 15, 1991 Resolution regarding the District of Columbia Domestic Partnership Act of 1991. **
• September 18, 1991 Comments regarding proposed modification of the Writ of Habeas Corpus. **
• September 18, 1991 Comments regarding opposition of congressional expansion of the death penalty for killings committed in the District of Columbia. **
• September 18, 1991 Comments regarding funding of Death Penalty Resource Centers. **
• January 11, 1991 Letter addressed to C. Glenn Ihrig, President, Public Welfare Foundation, in support of the funding application submitted by the D.C. Prisoners' Legal Services Project, Inc. **
• November 9, 1990 Amicus Curiae in support of appellant in King v. Palmer, No. 89-7027 (D.C. Circuit).
• September 28, 1990 Statement of opposition to the Legal Services Reform Act of 1990 ("The McCollum-Staggers-Stenholm Amendments").
• November 30, 1989 Letter to Donna Ruscavage, Program Officer, in support of the funding application submitted by the D.C. Prisoners' Legal Services Project Inc. Funding would provide legal services to prisoners with AIDS and HIV infection.
• April 14, 1989 Letter to the Hon. Robert A Shuker, Chair, Criminal Rules Committee, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, regarding proposed amendments to Superior Court Criminal Rule 16 pertaining to discovery.
• April 11, 1989 Committee on Rights of the Homeless: Proposed testimony before the DC Council in opposition to Bill 8-156, "The D.C. Right to Overnight Shelter Act of 1984 Amendment Act to Establish a Comprehensive Homelessness Assistance Program of 1989"
• March 21, 1989 Opposition to the proposed creation of a Federal Public Defender Organization for the District of Columbia.
• September 11, 1987 Committee on Rights of the Elderly & Handicapped: Proposed testimony for submission to the D.C. City Council, Judiciary Committee in support of Bill 7-131, the District of Columbia Health Care Decisions Act of 1987.
• July 13, 1987 Proposed comments on the initial report of the D.C. Superior Court Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
• March 25, 1986 Rights of the Elderly and Handicapped Committee: Expedited consideration of comments in opposition to the "Halfway House and Public Shelter Public Hearing Act of 1985," Bill 6-291.
• April 8, 1985 Letter to Council member Wilhelmina J. Rolark in support of the D.C. Alternative Sentencing Commission Act of 1985.
• February 13, 1985 Letter addressed to D.C. ABA Delegates urging their support and vote for the adoption of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Resolution which will be presented at the Mid-Year ABA Meeting in Detroit, Michigan. **
• January 8, 1985 Gay and Lesbian Rights Committee: Letter to Mayor Marion Barry in support of a requirement that institutions receiving benefits from the sell of D.C. Revenue Bonds be required to comply, without exception, to D.C. Human Rights Act (per Karen Christensen).
• November 27, 1984 Proposed comments in support of enacting emergency legislation in the D.C. City Council to return the Youth Act to the D.C. Criminal Code.
• September 21, 1984 Comments concerning proposed regulations (1630) by the Legal Services Corporation.
• June 27, 1984 Emergency consideration to file an Amicus Curiae brief on behalf of Division 5: Criminal Law and Individual Rights in Gay Rights Coalition of Georgetown Law Center, et al. v. Georgetown University, et al. **
• March 7, 1984 Proposed letter regarding proposed Rule 27(e) to amend the Rules of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
• January 18, 1984 Consideration of a request by Division 5 and the PSA Committee to join as co-signatories on an Amicus brief in the case of National Senior Citizens Law Center, et al. v. Legal Services Corporation, Civil Action No. 83-3867.
• December 30, 1983 Military & Veterans' Rights Committee: Proposed resolution concerning the digesting of Military Court cases.
• December 8, 1983 Comments concerning the "Nursing Home and Community Residence Facility Residents' Protection Act of 1983"
• November 18, 1983 Criminal Rules and Legislation Committees expedited consideration of a public statement in opposition to Amendment 43 (c) (5) of the D.C. Superior Court Criminal Rules (Presence of the Defendant) Judge George Revercomb.
• September 26, 1983 Comments concerning Legal Services Corporation's proposed Regulations on Client Eligibility - 48 Fed. Reg. 39086. 

**Full text not available.