Legislation Law Clinic

Students Work with D.C Council on Important, Diverse Legislation

Under the supervision of Prof. Robert Burgdorf, who has directed the Clinic since its inception in 1990, students in the Legislation Clinic in the fall 2001 semester worked with offices of the Council of the District of Columbia on a variety of interesting and worthwhile matters.

Tiambe Belardo, 3L, worked with the Committee on the Judiciary and Councilmember Kathleen Patterson's office (Ward 3). Belardo's projects included legal research in preparation for Judiciary Committee hearings on the proposed Miranda Codification Act of 2001, examination of the constitutional issues raised by police use of passive alcohol sensors, and analysis of D.C. statutes and regulations affecting parental authority to select an infant's surname.

Sanaz Dabiri, 3L, worked with the office of Councilmember Carol Schwartz, chair of the Committee on Public Works and the Environment; among her projects, she did extensive research and analysis of a Child Restraint Act (vehicle safety seats and seatbelts) proposal and a proposed Alternative Fuel Vehicle bill (that would authorize a tax credit for purchases of such vehicles).

Ella Alis Hughes, 3L, was assigned to the office of D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp, where she did in-depth research on proposals for revamping the District's pension plans, and developed legal analyses of Infant Protection Act and Infant Abandonment Act bills.

Sharlene Kranz, 3L, worked with Councilmember Adrian Fenty's office and assisted with a wide array of projects, including several land use issues (such as successfully opposing Comcast's proposed transmission facility in Brightwood and attempting to restrain the activities of two establishments featuring nude dancing) and researching legal requirements regarding buffer zones around abortion clinics and their clients. As part of a Legislation Clinic exercise in which students are directed to draft a bill of their own choosing, Kranz drafted a "Miscellaneous Vehicles Helmet Safety Amendment Act" bill. After revising the draft bill and doing some supportive research, she had the gratifying experience of having Councilmember Fenty introduce her bill on December 4.

Sharon Mills, 3L, worked with the office of Councilmember Vincent Orange, chair of the Committee on Government Operations, where she assisted in analyzing bills, conducting legal research, drafting committee reports, crafting hearing questions, and performing various other tasks regarding a range of legislative proposals; these included proposals to revamp the authority of and oversight over the Inspector General, to provide job security for persons undergoing organ or bone marrow transplant procedures, and to make various reforms of D.C. voting procedures.

June S. Phillips, 3L, was assigned to the office of Councilmember Kevin Chavous, chair of the Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation. Phillips drafted a "D.C. Developers Tax Credit Program Act" bill to stimulate construction of affordable rental housing and a "Healthcare Services Delivery Crisis Resolution" proposal to urge the Mayor to construct a new city hospital on the grounds where D.C. General was located. She also worked on college education funding proposals, and conducted research on school bus safety.

Working with the office of Councilmember Phil Mendelson and the Subcommittee on Voting, Labor Relations, and Redistricting, Heather Rubinstein, 3L, was assigned to oversee the redrafting of D.C. local electoral boundaries integral to redistricting in the District. Rubinstein was almost single-handedly responsible for completing the time-consuming, tedious, and intensive task of redrawing ward, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), and Single Member District (SMD) boundaries.

Janelle Ryan, 3L, worked with the office of Councilmember Sandy Allen and the Committee on Human Services, where she analyzed a "Standby Guardianship Act" bill to permit parents with terminal illnesses or periodically recurring debilitating illnesses to make long-term plans for their children. Ryan also drafted a summary of the "Child and Family Service Agency License Exemption of Certain Court Personnel Temporary Act" bill, and she prepared a legal research memorandum on constitutional issues surrounding "Infant Protection Act" legislation that would call for mandatory drug and alcohol blood testing of pregnant women.

Gene Wilkerson, 3L, was assigned to work with the office of Councilmember Jim Graham and the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Latino Affairs, and Property Management, where he worked on a whole range of issues. They include: drafting a ceremonial resolution honoring the Mary House, analyzing legislation that would revise procedures for disposing of real property assets of the District, reviewing and editing a "Creating Affordable and Diverse Housing" bill, and analyzing differences between two bills for preventing lead poisoning from lead-based paint. Wilkerson also researched the constitutional restrictions on loitering laws and attempted to draft a D.C. loitering measure that would withstand constitutional scrutiny.

As this partial summary of their work indicates, UDC-DCSL Legislation Clinic students are having a substantial impact assisting in the development of the District's laws, at the same time as they are gaining invaluable educational insights into the lawmaking process.