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Misty Thomas named Council for Court Excellence Executive Director

The Council for Court Excellence's (CCE) Executive Committee selected Misty Thomas as CCE's next executive director, effective July 2, 2018. Ms. Thomas brings her years of experience representing indigent clients in both civil and criminal matters in the District and directing two legal reform non-profit organizations, to further CCE's vital mission to enhance D.C.'s justice system and ensure that all people who rely on our courts and government are served fairly and effectively.

Ms. Thomas most recently served as the Director of theAmerican Bar Association's Death Penalty Due Process Review Project,which focuses on research, education, and policy advocacy related to capital punishment and other criminal justice issues. She was also a senior Affordable Housing Initiative attorney at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, where she represented homeless individuals and low-income tenants in cases to preserving their access to housing or shelter, and advocated to government agencies for more effective affordable housing laws and regulations in the District. Ms. Thomas also worked at Howrey LLP as the firm's Pro Bono Fellow, where she represented indigent clients in a wide range of criminal and civil cases and supported the pro bono practices of other lawyers at the firm. Prior to law school, she served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, which works to correct and prevent the wrongful conviction of innocent people in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

"We are very confident that Misty is just the right person to lead CCE at this time," said Irvin B. Nathan, CCE's President and former Attorney General of the District of Columbia. "Misty is a seasoned leader with significant experience in working to make justice more equitable right here in D.C. Her vision for enhancing justice in the District of Columbia is exactly what CCE needs as the organization enters its next chapter."

"As the Executive Director, I believe it is incumbent upon me to ensure that the Council for Court Excellence continues asking the hard questions, closely evaluating the way this city serves its residents, and offering thoughtful, nonpartisan policy recommendations to improve our justice system," said Thomas. "Not only do I look forward to working with our many valued partners in the government and in the legal and advocacy communities on these efforts, but I will also seek to amplify the voices of the very people whose lives are most impacted by our advocacy."CCE also announced that Emily Tatro, CCE's Senior Policy Counsel,was promoted to the role of Deputy Director. She will devote her time to supporting CCE's programmatic work, identifying opportunities for CCE to effect meaningful and enduring change and leading staff to carry out CCE's research, policy development, advocacy, and education work at the same high caliber as ever.

When discussing the future of CCE, Nathan remarked, "We're fortunate and excited to have Misty and Emily serve as CCE's new leadership team. The Board is confident that they will build upon the many successes that CCE has achieved in its 36 year history."

 

 
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