This year the General Counsel's Office has represented the Council and individual Councilmembers in administrative and court cases and assisted the Office of the Corporation Counsel in its representation of the District in litigation involving the validity of Council enactments and the actions of Councilmembers. The litigation this year has involved personnel action issues, the court injunction involving the Ward 8 election, discovery matters in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation of the District, the Council's legislation regarding the Georgetown Cogeneration facility, the court challenges to the Council's enactment of wage rollback legislation, appeal of the death penalty initiative, and Tri-County Industries challenge to the District's decision to rescind its permit to operate a soil reprocessing facility in Ward 5. Since January 1995, this office has issued several legal opinions on pending legislation, Council procedural rules, and other matters. The Office was also involved in issues regarding the closing of Pennsylvania Avenue. The remainder of Council Period XI is likely to continue at this same pace.
Next year is an election year.
Elections will be held for several Council positions. Usually during an election year this Office receives a number of requests for opinions as to whether documents can be mailed using the official mail. Council Rules 801 through 811 address the issue of official mail. Prior to drafting legislation, the Update Chart should be reviewed to determine if the section of the code to be amended has recently been changed. Now you can read the Update Chart or print it.