DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted a homicide defendant’s request to leave the District on a personal trip, despite the victim’s family members expressing frustration over the decision in an Oct. Read more »

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty to seven charges before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Oct. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein granted a homicide defendant’s request to attend a 28 day residential drug rehabilitation program as part of his release conditions on Sept. Read more »

One of two homicide co-defendants waived his rights to independently test DNA evidence recovered from a crime scene based on two search warrants before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan a Sept. Read more »

A homicide defendant waived his right to conduct independent DNA testing, and filed a motion that would allow him to leave the District on a family trip before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Sept. Read more »

A homicide defendant was released after the defense was granted a motion to reopen the preliminary hearing in front of D.C Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in an Aug. Read more »

On Aug. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan told parties she needed additional time to reconsider a co-defendant’s motion to sever during an Aug. Read more »

Frustration about jail security boiled over during a hearing on June 25 in the DC Superior Court.  Arguing for his client’s immediate release under an emergency motion, Public Defender Jason Tulley told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun, “The DC Jail is horrible!”  Tulley said that murder suspect Jahi Settles, 23, is forced to live under conditions that violate constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun stated on July 16 there was “no basis to revoke release status” for a homicide defendant, despite the DC Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) requesting the action. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a homicide defendant’s request on July 9 to attend a family vacation in South Carolina. Read more »

Defense attorney Jason Tulley informed DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun of an emergency motion he recently filed for his client to be immediately released from the DC Jail during a June 25 hearing. Read more »

A homicide defendant’s lawyer informed DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt he will file a motion for a speedy trial, as both parties struggle to agree on a date for the proceeding.  Admonishing both parties in a June 13 hearing, the judge said "This is not a slam dunk case." Emerita Garcia, 45, is charged with second-degree murder for her alleged involvement in assisting her son in the fatal shooting of Larry Thomas, 27, on Aug. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted a defense attorney’s motion to delay sentencing in a homicide case, voicing concern for his clients’ mental competency, during a June 13 hearing.  Jamari Payne, 22, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed for the shooting of 57-year-old Bacilio Villatoro on Sept. Read more »

Prosecutors in a homicide case alerted DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe that they were dismissing a defendant’s case following allegations of lost evidence, during a June 10 hearing.  Ronnie Melson, 42, also known as “Snobs”, was charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting 41-year-old Demetrius Jones. Read more »