Not long after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Judge Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye to the California Supreme Court bench, President Barack Obama nominates another Pilipina-American to be an Associate Judge in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Maria Elizabeth (Maribeth) Raffinan earned her Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Boston College and is a graduate of the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. She currently is the supervising attorney for the Trial Division of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor at the Columbia School of Law, co-chaired the 2007 Deborah T. Creek Criminal Practice Institute, and served on the Superior Court's Drug Court Committee.
The Superior Court of the District of Columbia is the trial level court, responsible for hearing all cases that are to be tried and adjudicated in Washington D.C. The D.C. Court of Appeals may further review the decisions of the Superior Court, and uphold or overturn its decision.
Before she takes the bench, however, Raffinan must go through a confirmation process with the United States Senate, and if confirmed, she will serve a term of 15 years on the bench. She will be one of 62 trial judges in the court system, replacing current Associate Justice Odessa Vincent.
Related Links:
President Obama Names Maribeth Raffinan to Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Obama names Fil-Am as Associate Judge of DC
Obama names veteran Fil-Am litigator to DC court
Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye becomes first Pilipina American CA Chief Justice Nominee
