DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean questioned a representative from the Department of Corrections (DOC) on April 13 as to why a stabbing defendant has been continuously denied a wheelchair.
James Gregory, 37, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that occurred on the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE on March 26, 2025. The victim sustained a stab wound to the left arm.
According to US Marshals, Gregory refused to appear for the hearing. His attorney, Santia McLaurin, said his absence was medically related. McLaurin stated that she saw Gregory walking with a cane on April 9, even though an emergency motion to return Gregory’s wheelchair was ordered on Jan. 27.
“They took away his wheelchair, gave him a crutch, and then took away the crutch,” McLaurin said.
On March 5, Judge McLean said she ordered a representative from the DOC to appear and discuss the Jan. 27 motion and why Gregory’s wheelchair was removed on Nov. 25, 2025.
The representative said that “once [Gregory] was weaned off of his wheelchair,” medical staff who assessed Gregory recommended alternatives such as a cane. He stated that wheelchairs are not allowed in the general population in the DC Jail, where Gregory is being held. According to the DOC representative, they are in the process of moving Gregory out of the general population in order to allow him to use crutches.
Judge McLean asked the representative if he reviewed the motion, but the representative stated he did not and instead “chose to focus on speaking with the doctors” to prepare for the hearing and “[had] not seen the motion.”
Judge McLean questioned “you chose to focus on something I didn’t ask you to focus on.”
Because the representative could not answer Judge McLean’s questions thoroughly, the case was continued. Judge McLean specifically asked the representative to come prepared and read the motion before returning to court the following day.
Parties will reconvene on April 14.
