Bill > PR26-0024

Introduced Session

John A. Wilson Building 1350Pennsylvania Avenue,NW, Suite 504 Washington, DC 20004 Dear Chairman Mendelson: In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2- 142; D.C. Official Code§ 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 4604 of the Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Act of2001, effective October 3, 2001, (D.C. Law 14-28; D.C. Official Code § 4-1371.04), I am pleased to nominate the following person: Ms. Jenny Epstein W Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 (Ward 3) for appointment as a community representative member of the Child Fatality Review Board, filling a vacant seat formerly held by Marie Cohen, for a term to end July 16, 2025. Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process. I would appreciate the Council's earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor's Office of Talent and Appointments, should the Council require additional information. JENNY ELIZABETH EPSTEIN EDUCATION Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Mass. Juris Doctor, cum laude, May, 1994. GPA: 85.17, Class Rank: 35/312. Dean's List every semester. Moot Court Executive Board Member. 1993 American Jurisprudence Award for Trial Practice. Negotiations Competition semi-finalist. Mock Trial competitor. Research Assistant: Assisted Professor in supplementing a published criminal law manual (Massachusetts Criminal Defense). Suffolk Voluntary Defenders: Represented indigent clients in Boston Municipal Court from arraignment through case resolution. University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt. B.A. in Psychology, cum laude, May, 1988. GPA: 3.43. Dean's List six semesters. EXPERIENCE Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect, Washington, D.C. Attorney, May, 1996- May, 2003, January, 2005 -Present. Represent parents and children in child abuse and neglect cases from initial hearing through trial, disposition and appeal. Represent caretakers and adoptive parents in custody and adoption process. ACLU, National Prison Project, Washington, D.C. Attorney, September 1995 - May, 1996. Conducted legal research and writing in support of staff counsel for prison civil rights class action litigation. Corresponded with plaintiffs regarding case status. Monitored defendants' compliance with court orders. Law Office of Randolph Gioia, Esq., Boston, Mass. Associate, September, 1994 - September, 1995. Prepared motions and memoranda for civil and criminal law matters. Oversaw civil document discovery process and assembly of evidence in criminal matters. Met with clients and witnesses regarding factual issues and case status. Massachusetts Department of Social Service, Central Legal Office, Boston, Mass. Law Clerk, January - May, 1994. Reviewed case files, conducted legal research, and drafted legal memoranda in preparation for presentment and appellate review. Committee for Public Counsel Services (State Public Defender), Boston, Mass. Student Attorney, June - September, 1993. Personally handled juvenile delinquency cases from arraignment through disposition. Conducted initial client interview, legal research, case investigation, court presentation, and follow-up. Federal Public Defender Service, Washington, D.C. Law Clerk, June - August, 1992. Researched legal issues and drafted preliminary pleadings for matters pending in Federal District Court, D.C. Circuit. Participated in trial proceedings as "second chair." Allen, Sparks & DeBerardinis, Washington, D.C. Investigator / Legal Assistant, May, 1990 - July, 1991. Investigated criminal and civil matters. Researched, interviewed and subpoenaed witnesses in neighborhoods, prisons and at municipal agencies. Prepared deposition and pre-trial materials and trial exhibits, and assisted counsel at trials. Sidley & Austin, Washington, D.C. Legal Assistant Administrator, November, 1988 - April, 1990. Recruited, interviewed, and coordinated 28 legal assistants. Conducted orientation and performance reviews. Assisted in determination of assignments and salaries. Legal Assistant, June - November, 1988. Organized discovery files for anti- trust litigation. Researched and cite-checked briefs. Participated in trial, with responsibility for exhibits, pleadings and depositions. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES Volunteer Lawyers Project, Boston Bar Association, Boston, Mass. Pro Bono Attorney, December, 1994 - September, 1995. Represented tenant in an eviction action; attended seminars regarding landlord/tenant law and SSI and other benefits. Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Washington, D.C. Caseworker, December, 1988 - July, 1991. Conducted initial interviews of homeless persons desiring legal assistance.

Committee Categories

Phil Mendelson (D)*, 

Notice of Intent to Act on PR26-0024 Published in the DC Register (on 01/24/2025)

Official Document