IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 354
Commending Annice M. Wagner, Chief Judge of the District of Columbia 
Court of Appeals, for her public service. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 11, 2005
Ms. NORTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Commending Annice M. Wagner, Chief Judge of the District 
of Columbia Court of Appeals, for her public service.
Whereas Annice M. Wagner, Chief Judge of the District of 
Columbia Court of Appeals, entered Federal Government 
service in 1973 as the first woman to be appointed Gen-
eral Counsel of the National Capital Housing Authority, 
then a Federal agency; 
Whereas from 1975 to 1977, the Honorable Annice M. Wag-
ner served as People’s Counsel for the District of Colum-
bia, an office created by Congress to represent the inter-
ests of utility consumers before the District of Columbia 
Public Service Commission and the District of Columbia 
Court of Appeals; 
Whereas in 1977, the Honorable Annice M. Wagner was ap-
pointed by President Carter and confirmed by the Senate
•HRES 354 IH 
to serve as an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of 
the District of Columbia; 
Whereas while serving as an Associate Judge of the Superior 
Court, the Honorable Annice M. Wagner served in the 
civil, criminal, family, probate, and tax divisions and 
served for 2 years as presiding judge of the probate and 
tax divisions; 
Whereas while serving as an Associate Judge of the Superior 
Court, Annice M. Wagner served on various commissions 
and committees to improve the District of Columbia judi-
cial system, including serving as chairperson of the Com-
mittee on Selection and Tenure of Hearing Commis-
sioners, and as a member of the Superior Court Rules 
Committee and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission; 
Whereas as an Associate Judge of the Superior Court, Annice 
M. Wagner served as chairperson of the Court’s Advisory 
Committee on Probate and Fiduciary Rules and was 
largely responsible for the implementation of new rules 
intended to streamline and clarify procedures regarding 
missing, protected, and incapacitated individuals; 
Whereas as an Associate Judge of the Superior Court, the 
Honorable Annice M. Wagner served as chairperson of 
the Task Force on Gender Bias in the Courts, which con-
ducted a comprehensive study of bias in the courts; 
Whereas under Annice M. Wagner’s leadership, the District 
of Columbia courts established the Standing Committee 
on Fairness and Access to the Courts to ensure racial, 
gender, and ethnic fairness; 
Whereas Annice M. Wagner was appointed by President 
George H.W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate in 1990
•HRES 354 IH 
to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia 
Court of Appeals; 
Whereas Annice M. Wagner was appointed in 1994 to serve 
as Chief Judge of the District Court of Appeals; 
Whereas while an Associate Judge of the District of Colum-
bia Court of Appeals, Annice M. Wagner served as Chair 
of the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration in the 
District of Columbia; 
Whereas under Annice M. Wagner’s leadership, the District 
of Columbia courts initiated the renovation of the Old 
District of Columbia Courthouse (Old City Hall) in Judi-
ciary Square, a National Historic Landmark, for future 
use by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals; 
Whereas under Annice M. Wagner’s leadership, the District 
of Columbia courts initiated the master planning process 
for the renovation and use of court properties, which will 
lead to the revitalization of the Judiciary Square area in 
the Nation’s Capital; 
Whereas under Annice M. Wagner’s leadership, the District 
of Columbia Court of Appeals, along with the District of 
Columbia Bar, the District of Columbia Bar Foundation, 
and the District of Columbia Consortium of Legal Serv-
ice Providers, established the District of Columbia Access 
to Justice Commission, a commission that will propose 
ways to make lawyers and the legal system more avail-
able for poor individuals in the District of Columbia; 
Whereas Annice M. Wagner served as President of the Con-
ference of Chief Justices, an organization of Chief Jus-
tices and Chief Judges of the highest court of each of the 
50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories;
•HRES 354 IH 
Whereas Annice M. Wagner served as Chairperson of the 
Board of Directors of the National Center for State 
Courts; 
Whereas the Honorable Annice M. Wagner commands wide 
respect within the legal profession nationally, having been 
selected to serve as one of 11 members of the American 
Bar Association’s Section on Dispute Resolution’s Draft-
ing Committee on the Uniform Mediation Act, which col-
laborated with the National Conference of Commissioners 
on Uniform State Laws in promulgating the Uniform 
Mediation Act, which, in 2001, was approved and rec-
ommended for enactment in all of the States, to foster 
prompt, economical, and amicable resolution of disputes 
through mediation processes which promote public con-
fidence and uniformity across State lines; 
Whereas since 1979, Annice M. Wagner has been involved 
with the United Planning Organization, which was estab-
lished in 1962 to conduct initiatives designed to provide 
human services in the District of Columbia and she has 
served as Interim President of the Organization’s Board 
of Trustees; 
Whereas since 1986, Annice M. Wagner has served as a 
member of a teaching team for the Trial Advocacy Work-
shop at Harvard Law School; 
Whereas Annice M. Wagner, Chief Judge of the District of 
Columbia Court of Appeals, was born in the District of 
Columbia and attended District of Columbia Public 
Schools and received her Bachelor’s and law degree from 
Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; and 
Whereas Annice M. Wagner’s dedication to public service and 
the citizens of the District of Columbia has contributed
•HRES 354 IH 
to the improvement of the judicial system, increased 
equal access to justice, and advanced public confidence in 
the court system: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives com-
mends the Honorable Annice M. Wagner for her commit-
ment and dedication to public service, the judicial system, 
equal access to justice, and the community.
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