Judge Janice Rogers Brown is stepping down

Janice Rogers Brown has notified officials that she will step down from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Judge Brown, age 68, has served on that Court since 2005.

The Wall Street Journal story says, in its headline, that Judge Brown’s retirement will give President Trump the opportunity to appoint a conservative to this powerful court. He’ll be hard-pressed, however, to appoint a more solid conservative than Janice Rogers Brown.

The good news is that Trump will be able to appoint a much younger one — a conservative who, with luck, will hold down the seat for two decades or more.

It is not known, or at least not reported, whether Judge Brown will take senior status on the court. If she does, she will be allowed to continue hearing cases, with some limitations.

That would be a big plus. The D.C. Circuit hears a many big cases — e.g., ones involving federal regulatory authority, the powers of the executive and legislative branches, and special matters such as appeals from Guantanamo Bay detainees. It would be great if Judge Brown participates in some of these cases.

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