James Lake
James Lake is the Chief of the Workers’ Rights & Antifraud Section of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.[1][2]
On July 31, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lake to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.[2][3] Lake's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2025. He was not renominated.[4] Click here for more information on Lake 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 Joe Biden
On July 31, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lake 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: James Lake |
| Court: Superior Court of the District of Columbia |
| Progress |
| 526 days since nomination. |
 Nominated: July 31, 2024
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 ABA Rating:
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| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: November 14, 2024
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| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: November 20, 2024
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| Confirmed:
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Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held hearings on Lake's nomination on November 14, 2024. Lake was reported to the full Senate on November 20, 2024, after a 7-2 committee vote.[5]
Nomination
On July 31, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lake to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.[2] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee hearing.
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.[6]
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:[7]
- 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
- ↑ The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," accessed July 31, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," accessed July 31, 2024
- ↑ Congress.Gov, "PN2012 — James Graham Lake — The Judiciary," accessed November 14, 2024
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, "Business Meeting on November 20, 2024," November 20, 2024
- ↑ District of Columbia Courts, "About the Superior Court," accessed March 30, 2021
- ↑ District of Columbia Courts, "About the Superior Court," accessed March 30, 2021
