Judiciary and Public Safety committee adopts rules, appoints five staff at organizational meeting

At its organizational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety adopted its rules of organization and procedure for council period 26 and unanimously approved a slate of five committee staff, Chairwoman Brooke Pinto said.

The rules resolution, which the committee circulated the previous day and attached to the resolution, was moved by Pinto "with leave for staff to incorporate this discussion as well as make any technical changes" and passed by voice vote. The committee then approved the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Staff Appointment Resolution of 2025, appointing Lynn Groft as committee director; Akima Benjamin as committee manager; Eloy Labrada as senior legislative counsel; Anaya Mitchell as legislative policy adviser; and James Nantz as legislative counsel. Pinto moved the staff-appointment resolution and it passed by unanimous voice vote.

The actions set the committee's procedural framework and staffing for council period 26. Pinto said the rules were drafted to conform with general council committee practices and to reflect changes adopted at the council's organizational meeting on Jan. 2, 2025.

Chairwoman Brooke Pinto used the brief meeting to recap recent public-safety work and outline priorities for the new council period. "I want to build on the progress that we made last committee period," Pinto said, citing "reductions in violent crime by 35% year over year and the lowest reported violent crime numbers MPD has had on record in 30 years." She also pointed to improvements at the Office of Unified Communications and the "reaccreditation of several units of the Department of Forensic Sciences, including the recent reaccreditation in fingerprinting." These statements were made by Pinto during the meeting and attributed to her remarks.

Pinto said the committee will continue legislative and oversight work aimed at public-safety outcomes, including support for returning citizens, backing violence-interruption programs, and coordination with community legal services. "We know that there are still far too many residents who are experiencing violence and loss," Pinto said, adding the committee will maintain work to "ensure that we continue to work on the progress that has gotten us to this point with the legislation and robust oversight, but also with working with our communities and agencies to drive forward needed improvements to public safety outcomes."

Both resolutions were approved with unanimous aye votes. Pinto closed the meeting after asking for any further business; the chair announced the meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

Votes at a glance

Rules of organization and procedure for the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety for council period 26 (Resolution of 2025): Moved by Chairwoman Brooke Pinto; passed by unanimous voice vote (ayes). Staff directed to incorporate discussion and make technical changes.

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Staff Appointment Resolution of 2025: Moved by Chairwoman Brooke Pinto; passed by unanimous voice vote (ayes). Appointments: Lynn Groft, committee director; Akima Benjamin, committee manager; Eloy Labrada, senior legislative counsel; Anaya Mitchell, legislative policy adviser; James Nantz, legislative counsel.