Judges Release Nearly One-Third of Defendants in April

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 2, 2020
Featured |

Judges presided over 333 cases at the DC Superior Courthouse between April 1 and April 30. Most of the defendants in the cases filed emergency motions for release because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DC Superior Court Judges Neal Kravitz, Todd Edelman, Anita Josey-Herring, Danya Dayson, Robert Morin, Michael Ryan, Robert Okun, Michael O’Keefe, Rainey Brandt, Julie Becker, Juliet McKenna, Lynn Leibovitz and John Campbell presided over all of the cases that were heard at the courthouse in April. Most of the cases included defendants charged with felonies and misdemeanors.

All of the 102 released defendants were placed under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). Most of the hearings were conducted remotely.

Judge Danya Dayson has heard 63 hearings, mostly for bond reviews. Judge Dayson released 16 defendants and denied release for 26 defendants. Of the cases, 35 percent of Judge Dayson’s hearings were repeated.

Judge Neal Kravitz presided over 54 hearings, most of the hearings that occurred during time span were for bond reviews. Judge Kravitz released 11 defendants and denied release for 19 defendants.

 Judge Todd Edelman heard 49 cases, mostly bond reviews. Judge Edelman released 21 defendants and denied release for 15 defendants. In two cases Judge Edelman presided over he denied both defendant’s motion for release on the second hearing.

Judge Michael Ryan has heard 39 cases during this time span where he released 14 defendants under the HISP. He also sent five to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

Judge Anita Josey-Herring heard 38 cases since April 1. Judge Herring released 17 defendants and denied release for 11 defendants. Twenty-six percent of her cases were heard more than one time

Judge Robert Okun presided over 22 cases. He dismissed six fugitives from justice, released 11 defendants into HISP. He also presided over one bond review hearing where no action was taken, two probation hearings that were rescheduled, an arraignment that was held but no action was taken and a trial readiness hearing that did not occur.

Chief Judge Robert Morin presided over eight fugitive from justice cases, dismissing charges for seven defendants. He also set a nominal bail of $10 for Terri Seabrook. Seabrook is charged with second-degree theft and unlawful entry of private property. D.C. Witness could not confirm if Seabrook paid the bail.

Judge Rainey Brandt  presided over 21 cases, one pretrial show cause and one probation hearing. The pretrial show cause hearing and the probation hearing were rescheduled. The judge released nine defendants and issued two bench orders. Judge Brandt also held two defendants and rescheduled a post disposition hearing and a trial readiness hearing. Four other hearings were vacated.

Judge Julie Becker presided over two trial readiness hearings that were rescheduled.

Judge Michael O’Keefe presided over 13 cases where he modified conditions of release for one defendant and issued bench warrants for five defendants. One case was not called. One defendant did not show up to his hearing. Judge O’Keefe dismissed one fugitive from justice charge and placed one defendant into custody.

Judge Juliet McKenna has heard 24 cases between April 1-30, most of which were for defendants charged with being fugitives from justice. She dismissed charges for 12 defendants, released three under HISP, issued bench warrants for eight defendants, and one hearing did not occur.

Judge John Campbell heard one case where he re-sentenced murder defendant Darrick Evans, who was initially sentenced to 40 years in prison for murdering a 14-year-old boy who was picking up his cousin. The boy was not the intended target. The re-sentencing was granted under policy that says that convicts who were convicted as youth and have spent more than 20 years in prison could have their sentences modified. Evans was released on April 17.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz  only heard one case where she decided to keep a man charged with sexual abuse of a minor on probation after he requested to have his probation revoked.