Chairman Linda W. Cropp at the request of the
Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the reappointment of Ms. Ruth R. Banks to the Rental Housing Commission.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited
as the "Rental Housing Commission Ruth R. Banks Confirmation Resolution of
2001".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
Ms. Ruth R. Banks
3315 16th Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20018
(Ward 5)
as a member of the Rental Housing Commission, established by section 201 of the Rental
Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Code §45-2511), for a
term to end July 18, 2003.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this
resolution, upon its adoption, each to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
RESUME OF
ATTORNEY RUTH R. BANKS
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
July ’95 to Date, Chairperson, Rental Housing Commission, Department of Consumer And
Regulatory Affairs, 614 H Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, (202) 727-7400.
Responsible for: 1) presiding at hearings and issuing appeal decisions and orders under
the Rental Housing Act of 1985, D.C. Code §45-2501 (hereinafter, "the Act") and
the D.C. Administrative Procedures Act, D. C. Code §1501, 2) writing and publishing the
regulations under the Act, and 3) issuing annually the rate used by landlords to raise
rents for rental units under the District’s rent stabilization program. Assisted by two
Commissioners, who perform the identical duties. The Chairperson also serves as the
administrative head of the agency with the responsibilities for the agency budget and
procurement, and with supervisory functions over employees, such as hiring, promotions,
training, evaluations, time and attendance, completion of assignments, record keeping etc.
In addition, the Chairperson attends executive committee meetings with the DCRA Director
and some meetings with the Mayor.
Mar. ’92 – July ’95, Commissioner, Rental Housing Commission, Department of Consumer
and Regulatory Affairs. 614 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.
Participated in appeal hearings, wrote decisions and orders, assisted with writing
regulations to implement the Act, and participated with issuing the annual adjustment of
rents under the Act.
Dec. ’89 – Mar. ’92, Chairperson, Rental Housing Commission, Department of Consumer and
Regulatory Affairs.
Identical duties as stated above for July 1995.
Jan. ’81 – Dec, ’89, Private Practice of Law, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20004.
Responsible for client cases in the following areas of law: administrative, commercial,
family, negligence, personnel, probate, corporate, landlord and tenant, criminal, and
public utility in both the local and federal courts on the trial and appellate levels.
Responsible for law office management.
Aug. ’79 – Jan. ’81, Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, Department of the
Interior, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 557-1500.
Managed a federal quasi-judicial office with a five (5) million dollar budget and with
a nationwide staff of 140 employees of whom 75 were attorneys. Oversight responsibilities
for all administrative decisions issued on both the hearings and appeals level.
Responsible for resolving all office problems, and the hiring and promoting the employees.
Served on two ad hoc boards of appeals. Managed the Department of Interior’s. ethics
program and grievance program. Served on rules committee for implementing all’ laws and
amendments to the laws that were used in the Department’s work. Became familiar with the
requirements of the Federal Register.
Oct. ’77 – Aug. ’79, Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals,
Department of the Interior, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 557-1500.
Assisted the Director with the duties listed above. In addition, had responsibilities
to advise the Director on legal problems by preparing memoranda of law, represented the
Director at meetings, served on boards of appeals, served on Department’s EEO task force,
and served as the acting director.
Feb. ’73 – Oct. ’77, Private Practice of Law, Washington, D.C.
Specialized in civil and criminal trial and appellate litigation in both the local and
federal courts. Legal experiences in criminal law, civil law, landlord and tenant,
probate, real property, administrative, contracts, corporations, immigration, family, and
negligence.
Oct. ’69 – Feb. ’73, Assistant United States Attorney, Department of Justice,
Washington, D.C.
Prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony criminals in both the local and federal courts
on the trial and appellate levels.
Dec. ’68 – Oct. ’69, Law Clerk to the Honorable Tim Murphy, Superior Court of the
District of Columbia, (formerly the Court of General Sessions) Washington, D .C.
20001
Researched and wrote memoranda of law on pending cases, briefed recent cases, drafted
orders for pending cases, kept the judge’s calendar for court cases and meetings, obtained
court files and accompanied the judge to court each day to perform the duties of the clerk
of the court. Coordinated release of prisoners, issuance of arrest warrants and bench
warrants .
June ’68 – Dec. ’68, Law Clerk, Office of General Counsel, Office of Personnel
Management (formerly U.S. Civil Service Commission) 1900 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Researched law and wrote trial briefs on political activity cases under the Hatch Act
and prepared memoranda of law on personnel legal issues.
Significant Student Employment:
June ’65 – Sept. ’65, Congressional Intern for Congressman Carlton Sickles (D. Md.)
Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D. C.
EDUCATION
Howard University School of Law, J.D. 1968
Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD., B.A. 1965
McKinley High School, Washington, D.C. 1961
Bar Membership: District of Columbia
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Undergraduate
Senior Mentor to Freshmen, 1964-1965
Scholarship from Institute for Political
Education, 1964-1965
Law School
Interdisciplinary Fellowship, 1967-1968
Scholarship from Howard Law Journal, 1966 -1968
Professional Services
University of the District of Columbia Foundation,
Meritorious Service Award, 1993
President, Board of Directors, 1988-1993
Member Board of Directors, 1982-93
National Bar Association:
Women’s Division Founder’s Award, 1992
Women’s Division, D.C. Chapter President, 1980-1982
Treasurer, 1978-1980
Vice President, 1976-1978
Member, Board of Directors, 1978-1997
D.C. Bar, Served on Hearing Committee on Board of Professional Responsibility, and made
recommendations to the Board for disciplinary actions against lawyers.
Howard University School of Law Alumni Association:
Vice President, 1972-1974
Secretary, 1970-1972
The Pierians:
President, 1993-1995
Vice President 1991-1993
Post Graduate Training
Federal Executive Institute, 1980 (Management Training)
Numerous Continuing Legal Education Seminars
D. C. Government Training at UDC: Team Building, April 1997
The District of Columbia Annual Management Symposium II, 1997
Managing Multiple Projects
Human Resources
How to Supervise People
Technology
Home Address
Ruth R. Banks, Esq.
3315 -16th Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20018
(202) 635-8707