Norton to Speak at Swearing in of New U.S. Marshal for Superior Court for D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at the swearing in ceremony for Michael Hughes, the new U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, tomorrow, January 13, 2012, at the D.C. Court of Appeals Historic Courthouse (500 Indiana Ave, NW) at 4 p.m. The Senate confirmed Hughes by unanimous consent in November, after Norton recommended him for the position to President Barack Obama. Nancy Ware, who Norton recommended to the President for Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA), was also confirmed in November and began leading the agency shortly thereafter.

Hughes, who has spent his entire career in the U.S. Marshals Service, rose steadily in positions throughout the agency before becoming Chief of the Office of Crisis Services in the Tactical Operations Division. "Michael Hughes brings unusually broad experience from his 21 years with the U.S. Marshals Service to the Superior Court division," Norton said. "He has the essential combination of field and management experience, a calm and diplomatic temperament, and proven strong, patient, problem-solving leadership. The Superior Court Marshals' office, which has been without top leadership for years, needs the qualifications that Michael Hughes will bring to the division."

The Superior Court Marshals and CSOSA are both federally funded, but their missions are law enforcement exclusively for the District of Columbia. The Superior Court Marshals provide security for D.C. judges and prisoners, among other duties. CSOSA helps citizens returning from prison transition into civil society. Both are critical elements of law enforcement and public safety in the District.

President Obama, like President Clinton, granted the Congresswoman senatorial courtesy to recommend federal district court judges and other important federal law enforcement officials in the District. She recommended Hughes and Ware from a number of candidates screened by her 17-member Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission, chaired by Pauline Schneider, a former chair of the D.C. Bar and a partner at the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

Created: January 12, 2012