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April 14, 2005

SENATOR COLLINS COMMENDS DC JUDGE FOR THREE DECADES OF SERVICE

Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins today introduced a resolution to commend Chief Judge Annice M. Wagner of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for more than 32 years of public service. After a commendable career, Chief Judge Wagner will be retiring from the court this year. As chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, she has worked closely with the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on various issues related to the D.C. courts and the justice system in the District.

“Chief Judge Wagner’s dedication and service to the District of Columbia and to the judicial system are highly commendable and warrant recognition,” Senator Collins said. “During her distinguished career, Chief Judge Wagner has continually gone beyond the call of duty, not only ensuring proper justice in her courtroom, but access to such justice for all individuals in the District of Columbia.”

Chief Judge Wagner entered Federal government service in 1973 as the first woman to be appointed General Counsel of the National Capital Housing Authority, then a federal agency. Subsequently, she served as People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia, an office created by Congress to represent the interests of utility consumers before the District of Columbia Public Service Commission and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Chief Judge Wagner was twice confirmed by the Senate. First, in 1977, when she was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to serve as an Associate Judge of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia and again when she was nominated by President George H.W. Bush, in 1990, to serve as an Associate Judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals. She was later appointed, in 1994, to serve as chief judge. During her 28 years of service in the D.C. courts, she served in every division of the D.C. Superior Court, and served for two years as presiding judge of the Probate and Tax divisions. She also served on various commissions and committees, including serving as chairperson of the Committee on Selection and Tenure of Hearing Commissioners, Chair of the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration in the District of Columbia, and as a member of the Superior Court Rules Committee and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.

Senator Collins is Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which has oversight jurisdiction of the District of Columbia.