Neutral Spotlight – Hon. Anita Josey-Herring (Ret.)
With over 90 distinguished Neutrals—including retired judges and seasoned attorneys—serving Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, The McCammon Group is excited to continue our “Neutral Spotlight” series. This ongoing feature highlights the exceptional expertise, diverse experiences, and unique backgrounds of our Neutrals. Through these spotlights, we offer a closer look at the professionals who are committed to delivering fair, effective, and innovative dispute resolution services. Join us as we showcase the individuals who contribute to The McCammon Group’s reputation as a trusted leader in alternative dispute resolution.
- If you had to describe yourself in three words what would they be? Determined, diligent and committed.
- If you could pick a superpower, what would it be and why? I would harness the power to make people more collaborative because it is needed in this world.
- If you had to eat one type of cuisine all of your life, what would that be? French food. It is delicious.
- What is a fun fact that most people don’t know about you? I performed monologues in college and was very theatrical in doing so. Looking back, some of my performances were quite hilarious.
- What do you like most about being a Neutral? I enjoy helping people work thought difficult and sometimes life altering circumstances. Finding a path forward is helpful to litigants from both sides.
- What do you think the biggest misconception about mediation is? Some attorneys feel that mediating a case that appears to be winnable is unproductive. It is not. In fact, through mediation parties may be able to reach an acceptable resolution much earlier in the case than litigation would permit.
- How do you maintain neutrality when emotions run high in a dispute? Among other things, at the start of mediation, the mediator should inform all participants of the ground rules governing the mediation process. Respect for all participants in the mediation is essential. Name calling and unprofessional conduct hinders progress. Also, redirection or a short break can be taken to permit participants to settle down.
- How has your experience as a judge shaped your approach to mediation? Judicial decision-making requires neutrality in assessing both law and facts. For almost twenty-seven years, I served as a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, making fair decisions across a variety of case types. In addition to being well prepared, I listened carefully to the litigants and delved into issues important to resolution of disputes before me. I met the parties where they were and worked to help them appreciate both sides of the litigation and the ultimate decision.
- How do you handle situations where both parties are unwilling to compromise? Cases settle in mediation because parties weigh the risk of uncertainty involving the result of a jury trial and the high cost of litigation. Because juries are composed of people from different backgrounds and experiences there is a real risk that juries may not see things from the same perspective as the parties or one side. Litigants should understand that. Mediators should clarify how an unexpected outcome affects the parties personally and financially. Doing so will facilitate a reluctance to consider the value of compromise.
- What qualities do you think are essential for someone to be an effective Neutral? Preparation, litigation or judicial experience, empathy and the ability to allow the parties to process their concerns and feelings so they are respected and heard.
The Honorable Anita Josey-Herring, the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, recently retired after twenty-seven years of distinguished judicial service. As the Deputy Presiding Judge and later the Presiding Judge of the Family Division, she played a key role in reorganizing what is now known as the Family Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served as the Deputy Director of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. A respected legal, governmental, and community leader, Judge Josey-Herring has served as the 4th District Chair of the National Association of Women Judges, a Member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Board of Trustees, and Chair of the Judicial Council of the Washington Bar Association. She is a past recipient of Washingtonian’s Most Powerful Women Award and the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia’s Woman Lawyer of the Year Award. Judge Josey-Herring now brings this exemplary record of dedication and leadership to The McCammon Group to serve the mediation and arbitration needs of lawyers and litigants in D.C. and beyond.