Remembering Irv Nathan (1943-2026)

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of the Honorable Irvin B. Nathan, a titan of the D.C. legal community and former president of Council for Court Excellence. Irv passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Born in Baltimore, Irv had a loving family and fulfilling personal life to accompany a distinguished professional career. As a lawyer, he was best known for his service as the Attorney General of the District of Columbia (2011-2014), the General Counsel of the United States House of Representatives (2007-2010), a Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice (1993-94), and a partner at Arnold & Porter (spanning more than 30 years).

It is a source of great pride that Irv had such a long tenure as a leader at CCE. He first encountered CCE more than 35 years ago when then-president Charlie Horsky asked him to participate on a committee developing improvements to D.C.’s probate system. Although his law practice was not focused on probate, Irv brought his characteristic energy and focus to a group of practitioners, judges and laypeople who developed recommendations that led to lasting reforms. When he was Attorney General, he remained a proud ex officio director and frequently met with CCE representatives to discuss timely issues. Following his service as Attorney General, he agreed to co-chair a CCE committee to support innovations in the jury system alongside future Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was then a U.S. District Court judge. This important collaboration produced the highly influential report, Jury Service Revisited: Upgrades for the 21st Century, which served as a catalyst for several key jury reforms adopted in the years that followed.

Irv then served as CCE’s president from 2015 to 2019. As president, Irv led CCE through several major transitions and was a great advocate for this organization, taking our work to the opinion pages of the Washington Post, meeting with elected leaders, and advocating for firms and individuals to give generously. As one of his key initiatives, he ensured that CCE regularly spoke out about the impacts of judicial vacancies on our local courts.  In 2019, CCE honored him with our Charlie Horsky Award in appreciation of his outstanding leadership as president and his long-standing work to advance justice in the District of Columbia.

In addition to his volunteer service at CCE, Irv was generous with his time and leadership for a variety of other organizations. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a past president and board member of the Frederick B. Abramson Foundation, and a past chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Capital Region American Jewish Congress. Irv also served on the UDC Law School Foundation Board.  He volunteered as a hearing examiner and then served as Vice Chair of the D.C. Board of Professional Responsibility, appointed by the D.C. Court of Appeals. He also chaired the Ethics and Nominating Committees of the D.C. Bar, among many other voluntary activities and affiliations over the years.  

Our President Paulette Chapman reflected: “Irv Nathan was an institutional pillar. For more than three decades, he poured his immense legal talents into improving the District's justice system. Irv's career spanned the highest levels of public service and private practice, yet his enduring passion was making local justice work better for everyday citizens. As CCE President, he set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire us all.”

Irv remained a close friend to many members of CCE’s Board and staff, and he and his wife Judy Walter, have been generous and steadfast supporters of this organization. On behalf of all of CCE, we send our deepest condolences to his beloved wife Judy, their children, and his entire family.

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Historical Society of the D.C. Circuit  - Irvin Nathan