Opinion ID: 1482267
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Enforceability of the LRAA.

Text: Respondents' position, as presented at oral argument, appears to be that the strictures of the LRAA are not mandatory. Rather, they represent no more than aspirational notions as to what DOC should consider doing in an ideal world. Cf. Fountain v. Kelly, 630 A.2d 684, 686 n. 3 (D.C. 1993). But the provisions which respondents are alleged to have violated say shall, a verb which ordinarily creates a duty, not an option. Riggs Nat'l Bank v. District of Columbia, 581 A.2d 1229, 1257 (D.C.1990); cf. Adams v. Braxton, 656 A.2d 729, 731 (D.C.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 168, 133 L.Ed.2d 110 (1995). An agency is bound to follow its own regulations. Service v. Dulles, 354 U.S. 363, 372, 77 S.Ct. 1152, 1157, 1 L.Ed.2d 1403 (1957); Vaughn, supra, 598 A.2d at 433. Our decision in Vaughn that DOC is bound by the LRAA cannot be reconciled with respondents' theory that the regulations which the Council approved are merely precatory.