Gregory Jackson
A Far-Reaching Judicial Career Dedicated to Public Service
Holding a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rutgers College and a doctorate of jurisprudence from the Rutgers University–Newark School of Law, the Honorable Gregory Jackson has devoted his entire legal career to public service.
Beginning in 1978, Judge Jackson served as an Honor Law Graduate at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In 1986, he was sworn in as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, a role that saw him investigating and prosecuting criminal cases at the misdemeanor, grand jury, appellate, felony trial, and special proceedings levels. While chief of the General Felony Section, he led the development and implementation of the Conditions of Release Program (CORE), providing a means for law enforcement officers to monitor offender compliance with court-imposed pretrial conditions of release.
As chief legal counsel and senior executive staff member at the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, Judge Jackson organized and directed the resolution of complex legal issues, including major prison closings. In 2004, he was named to the D.C. Superior Court by President George W. Bush. As an associate judge, he served in the Civil Division and Domestic Violence Unit and presided over misdemeanor and felony cases in the Criminal Division. From 2012 through 2016, he was presiding judge for the Superior Court Drug Intervention Program (SCDIP), also known as Drug Court. During his tenure, SCDIP became a focal point for international delegations interested in learning about drug court and other criminal justice alternatives to incarceration. Sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the Organization of American States, Judge Jackson has traveled to Bolivia, Northern Ireland, Uruguay, and Guyana to participate in drug court training for criminal justice professionals. Although he officially retired in 2017, he continues to serve as a senior judge and is active as a board member for several local and national nonprofit organizations.