Heidi M. Pasichow, 54, will be formally sworn in this afternoon as the newest associate judge in D.C. Superior Court. A longtime area resident, she earned her bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and her law degree at American University. She’ll serve a 15-year term after two decades as a D.C. prosecutor.
Are you having a good time? I am having a good time. It is a real welcome challenge.
What was it like to put on the robes the first time and walk into your courtroom, having everybody stand?
I felt, and I continue to feel, honored and humbled by the experience. I’ve wanted to do this for a while. I was really hoping that the moment would come that I would be able to come into the courtroom as a judge. I spent 22 years going into the courtroom as an advocate.
What was the first case you heard?
I’m in the domestic violence civil division. One of the particular challenges in this section is that the cases are predominately pro se litigants. In my mind that requires some additional — I’m not going to call them “talents” — but some additional sensitivity, let me put it that way.
Has it been an adjustment to sit on the bench, as opposed to arguing?
Have you let slip out an, “Oh, come on,” or “Objection”? I hope not.
You worked a lot of cases in the U.S. Attorney’s office. What was the most memorable?
I think representing the community and the victims of crime — it was all memorable. Really, there were so many cases that were so tragic.
Objection, your honor, non-responsive. They really do stand out for different reasons. Each of the [people] involved in them are still with me, at least in mind. Not just the officers or detectives, but also the civilians involved.
