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Elana Suttenberg
Elana Suttenberg works as special counsel for policy and legislative affairs at the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia.[1]
On September 2, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Suttenberg to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. As of September 2, 2025, Suttenberg was awaiting a hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.[2] Click here for more information on Suttenberg’s federal judicial nomination.
The Superior Court of the District of Columbia is a trial court of general jurisdiction in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On September 2, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Suttenberg to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Elana Suttenberg |
| Court: Superior Court of the District of Columbia |
| Progress |
| 10 days since nomination. |
 Nominated: September 2, 2025
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 ABA Rating:
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| Questionnaire: |
| Hearing:
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| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported:
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| Confirmed:
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Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing
As of September 2, 2025, Suttenberg was awaiting a hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee hearing.
Nomination
On September 2, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Suttenberg to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
About the court
| Local Courts |
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| Trial courts and judges |
| Elections by state |
| Judicial selection by state |
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The Superior Court of the District of Columbia resides in Washington, D.C. It is a trial court of general jurisdiction established by the U.S. Congress in 1970.[3]
Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...
The Superior Court handles all local trial matters. This includes topics such as:[4]
- Civil law
- Criminal law
- Family law
- Probate
- Taxes
- Landlord-tenant
- Small claims
- Traffic
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ DC.gov, "JNC Recommends Candidates for D.C. Superior Court Vacancies," March 12, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Congress.gov, "PN466-8 — Elana S. Suttenberg — The Judiciary," accessed September 9, 2025
- ↑ District of Columbia Courts, "About the Superior Court," accessed March 30, 2021
- ↑ District of Columbia Courts, "About the Superior Court," accessed March 30, 2021
