The resolution introduced by Mayor Muriel Bowser seeks to confirm the reappointment of Dr. Erica Richards to the Violence Fatality Review Committee, in accordance with the Confirmation Act of 1978 and the Fatality Review Committee Amendment Act of 2018. Dr. Richards, whose term will extend until October 12, 2027, is currently the Chair and Medical Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Sibley Memorial Hospital and serves as an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The resolution includes a request for the Council to consider her nomination promptly and provides biographical details to facilitate the confirmation process.

Dr. Richards is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with a robust background in psychiatry, including significant contributions to research on mood disorders and treatment responses. The Office of the General Counsel has reviewed the resolution and deemed it legally unobjectionable, confirming that the reappointment process complies with legal standards. This underscores the value of Dr. Richards' expertise in addressing violence-related fatalities in the District of Columbia, and the resolution will take effect immediately upon adoption, with copies sent to both the nominee and the Office of the Mayor.