For Tyrona T. De Witt, the road to serving as a magistrate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia began at UDC Law with a passion for service.
“I liked the idea of arguing a position on behalf of someone—ensuring that their voice was heard,” she says.
De Witt graduated from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in 2002 and says the school’s emphasis on clinical service stayed with her.
“The clinics helped me quite a bit because we represented people who live in the District of Columbia,” De Witt says. “Once I left UDC, having that experience gave me great familiarity with the courts, and the clerks were familiar with me.”
De Witt was sworn in as a magistrate judge in 2016. After working for seven years as a judge in the Family Court Division with the District of Columbia Courts, she now serves as a judge in the Criminal Division.
“I want everyone who comes into my court to feel that they are heard,” she said. “I don’t want to make the hearing any more difficult. I try to make sure [everyone has] a plain and clear understanding about what is being said, what’s happening and how we are moving forward.”
As she did not see many Black woman judges when she was growing up, De Witt says she wants to serve as a role model to young Black women and girls today.
“There is a need for more Black women in all places and spaces,” she says. “It’s important that when people come before the court, they see judges who look like them.”
De Witt has faced her share of challenges as a Black woman in the legal profession.
“At times, I was underestimated by my male counterparts,” she said. “That just motivated me to be well-prepared and have as clear an understanding of a specific subject or case as possible.”
De Witt makes herself available to speak to young people whenever possible, including youth who come to tour the court and for mock trials.
Born and raised in New Jersey, De Witt graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She moved to the District in 1999 to attend UDC Law, where she served as managing editor of the District of Columbia Law Review. She was the recipient of the Earl H. Davis Advocacy Award.
“I don’t take for granted that I was privileged enough to go to law school,” she said. “I always wanted to be a judge and wanted to make a difference. I appreciate UDC and everyone who made me who I am.”
De Witt says the legal clinics at UDC Law were especially invaluable to her as a student.
“Clinics gave me that personal contact with the community. My work during this time wasn’t just in the courtroom or in the classroom, but at times [it meant] going to a client’s home or wherever they may be in the community to meet their needs,” she says. She adds that she lets families know she is “mindful of what challenges they may be facing.”
After graduating summa cum laude with her juris doctor, Judge De Witt clerked for D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff. Before her appointment, she worked for 12 years as an assistant attorney general in the Family Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
Her primary area of concentration was in the Child Protection Section within the Office of the Attorney General, where she litigated cases concerning the abuse and neglect of children with related adoptions, termination proceedings and guardianship matters. De Witt also completed a rotation in the Mental Health Section of the Office of the Attorney General, addressing petitions related to mental health issues. She is also certified as a child welfare law specialist in the District.
De Witt encourages current UDC Law students to find an area of law they love.
“Always be true to who you are as an individual and work for an organization that respects and appreciates that,” she says. “If you work hard at your job and your reputation, people will respect that. But mostly, despite every challenge you face, you will be proud of the type of attorney you are within your community. And that will create a ripple effect for good.”