Judge Beryl A. Howell
District of Columbia U.S. District Court
Beryl Alaine Howell was born in December 1956 in Fort Benning, Georgia. She earned an undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College. Howell worked as a legal assistant for an international law firm until she received her Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law. She clerked for a judge from the New Jersey U.S. District Court.
Howel practiced law at a private law firm in New York City before becoming an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. She then served as a senior advisor to the chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. She teaches legal ethics as an adjunct professor.
Howell was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the District of Columbia U.S. District Court. She was confirmed by the Senate and received her commission in December 2010.
In the News…
Federal Judge Beryl Howell of the D.C. District Court ruled in favor of board members of the U.S. Institute of Peace stating that the takeover of the agency by President Trump’s administration in March violates federal law and the Constitution.
Judge Howell wrote that the removal of the board members and actions to reduce the organization to its statutory minimum was contrary to the protections created by Congress as an independent think tank that “carries out its own international peace research, education and training, and information services.”
Judge Howell determined, “Congress’s restrictions on the President’s removal power of USIP Board members are squarely constitutional, and the President and his Administration’s acts to the contrary are unlawful and ultra vires [beyond their legal authority].” She also ruled the changes “effectuated by illegitimately-installed leaders who lacked legal authority to take these actions, which must therefore be declared null and void.”
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Judge Howell today? You can let her know at:
The Honorable Beryl Howell
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse
333 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
