D.C. Courts Appoint Herbert Rouson as Executive Officer

D.C. Courts Appoint Herbert Rouson as Executive Officer

July 25, 2024

By John Murph

Herbert Rouson Jr. was sworn in as executive officer of the D.C. Courts on July 19 following his appointment in May by the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration.

Rouson started working for the D.C. Courts in 2006 as a system accountant in the Defender Services Branch of the Budget and Finance Division. After six years in that role, he served from 2012 to 2016 as director of the Special Operations Division, which oversees several D.C. Courts departments, including the Office of Court Interpreting Services, Juror Office, and Superior Court Library.

From 2016 to 2019, Rouson was chief deputy clerk of the Court of Appeals, where he implemented improvements related to customer service metrics and employment engagement. He continued to rise through the ranks by serving as acting deputy executive officer between 2019 and 2024. In that role he oversaw numerous divisions, including administrative services, budget and finance, human resources, and information technology - all of which help support the appellate and trial courts.

In detailing Rouson's career, Superior Court Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring said Rouson led the D.C. Courts' pandemic working group to ensure that staff members were safe and healthy. "In recognition of the increasing mental health challenges experienced by staff and members of the public, he ensured that the Mental Health Advisory Council worked to meet the needs of all the people in the courthouses," Josey-Herring said.

Surrounded by family, friends, and various D.C. Courts colleagues, Rouson expressed his gratitude for the chance to serve in his new position. "I often tell people, particularly new employees, that working for the courts is a unique opportunity because every single day, irrespective of where you work, you [can] contribute to somebody's story," Rouson said.

"It may be a word, it may be a sentence, it may be a full paragraph, or maybe even an entire chapter, but the fact of just knowing that you are helping someone sort of unwind and navigate and to add depth and breadth to their story is such a powerful thing in public service," he added.

Earlier in the ceremony, speakers recognized Dr. Cheryl Bailey, the D.C. Courts' former deputy executive officer, who retired in April. Bailey served as acting chief executive officer during the last five years of her 40-year service at the D.C. Courts.

"None of us expected COVID-19; that rocked our worlds individually . . . [and] impacted our courts and our communities everywhere," said Court of Appeals Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby. "[Bailey's] leadership [and] her knowledge of the courts over the years were critical to helping navigate the treacherous and difficult time of COVID-19."

"She's always had a reputation for maintaining a steady hand," added Josey-Herring. "She has a knack for remembering really interesting details about the history of the courts . . . and she's known for being someone who worked hard and played hard."

Bailey's name, along with Rouson's, was added to the Superior Court wall inscribed with the names of former judges and executive officers.

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