Judges Release 32 Percent of Defendants from April 1-8

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 1, 2020
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Judges presided over 88 cases at the DC Superior Courthouse between April 1 and April 8. Of those cases, only 32 percent of the defendants were released.

DC Superior Court Judges Neal Kravitz, Todd Edelman, Robert Morin, Michael Ryan, Robert Okun, Rainey Brandt and Juliet McKenna presided over all the cases. Most the cases included defendants charged with felonies and misdemeanors.

All of the defendants, during that time, filed emergency motions for release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Judge Neal Kravitz has heard 33 hearings, most of the hearings that occurred during time span were for bond reviews. Judge Kravitz released eight defendants and denied release for 12 defendants.

 Judge Todd Edelman heard 25 cases in this time period, most of the hearings were for bond reviews. Judge Edelman released 14 defendants and denied release for nine defendants. Judge Edelman heard one case twice denying the defendant’s motion for release on the second hearing.

Judge Michael Ryan has heard on one case during this time span where he released the defendant into the high intensity supervision program.

Judge Robert Okun presided over 11 cases. Six of the cases were for defendants charged with being fugitives from justice hearings. He dismissed the charge for six of the defendants and released one into HISP. He also presided over one bond review hearing where no action was taken and two probation hearings that were rescheduled and an arraignment that was held but no action was taken.

Chief Judge Robert Morin presided over one fugitive from justice case where the charge was dismissed.

Judge Rainey Brandt presided over two cases, one pretrial show cause and one probation hearing, both of which were rescheduled.

Judge Juliet McKenna has heard 13 cases between April 1-8, all of which were for defendants charged with being fugitives from justice. She dismissed charges for 10 defendants, released one into HISP, issued bench warrants for three defendants and one hearing did not occur and was not reschedule as of now.

All of the 29 released defendants were placed under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).