AG Racine Welcomes 2021 Class of Charles F.C. Ruff Fellows

OAG Fellowships Allow Graduates from Area Law Schools to Gain Experience in Public Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine has welcomed 16 recent graduates from area law schools to join the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) as part of the 2021 Charles F.C. Ruff Fellowship. OAG established the year-long fellowship in 2012 to promote public interest legal work and give recent law school graduates the opportunity to practice law as Assistant Attorneys General for the District of Columbia. The fellowships are jointly funded by OAG and the graduates’ respective law schools. Many previous fellows have gone on to become full-time attorneys at OAG or at other prestigious public service institutions after their fellowships.

“The Ruff Fellowship allows recent law school graduates to begin their careers with hands-on experience in advancing the public interest,” said AG Racine. “District residents and OAG are fortunate to have this talented group of Ruff Fellows join our office. These Fellows contribute tremendously to the success of our work, and we hope that their time at OAG inspires them to pursue a career in public service.”

OAG awards these fellowships to stand-out applicants following a highly competitive selection process. The 2021 class includes graduates from Georgetown University Law Center, George Washington University Law School, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, Howard University School of Law, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.

The new Fellows and their assignments are:

  • Reshma Baig, Georgetown University, Public Safety Division
  • Andrew S. Boddie, University of Virginia, Civil Litigation Division
  • Kimberly Boyd, Howard University, Public Safety Division
  • Lily Bullitt, George Washington University, Public Advocacy Division
  • Alexis Byrd, University of the District of Columbia, Legal Counsel Division
  • Ashley Carter, Georgetown University, Civil Litigation Division
  • Corey Fitzpatrick, Georgetown University, Public Interest Division
  • James P. Jordan, George Mason University, Public Interest Division
  • Janika J. Jordan, George Washington University, Public Interest Division
  • Amanda Pescovitz, George Washington University, Civil Litigation Division
  • Matthew Saliman, Georgetown University, Commercial Division
  • Griffin Simpson, George Washington University, Public Interest Division
  • Blake Sweat, Georgetown University, Public Advocacy Division
  • Daniel Thaler, George Mason University, Personnel, Labor and Employment Division
  • Margaret Hope Ulle, George Washington University, Civil Litigation Division
  • Mark Wigley, Georgetown University, Office of the Solicitor General

The Ruff Fellowship program is named in memory of Charles F.C. Ruff, who was the District of Columbia’s Corporation Counsel—the position now known as Attorney General—from 1995 to 1997. Ruff served as White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton after his service as Corporation Counsel, and Attorney General Racine worked under him as an Associate White House Counsel. Ruff also served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and taught at area law schools. He passed away in 2000.

To learn more about the Ruff Fellowship program, visit https://oag.dc.gov/jobs-partner-opportunities/ruff-fellowship-program