Tenure

First elected to the Senate in 2006. Member of the Senate since 2007.

Current Assignments

2015 Chair, Executive Nominations Committee

2015 Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics (Member, 2007)

2012- Majority Whip

2007- Judicial Proceedings Committee

2007- Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area

2007- Joint Committee on Federal Relations

2015 Public Safety and Policing Workgroup

Past Senate Service

Chair, Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform, 2012-2014; Task Force to Study Court Decision Regarding Pit Bulls, 2012; Chair, Senate Select Committee No. 6, Montgomery County, 2011-2015.

Public Service

Maryland Medical Marijuana Model Program Work Group, 2011-; Attorney General's Advisory Committee on Campaign Finance, 2010-2011; Vice Chair, Montgomery County Delegation, 2008-2011; Co-Chair, Maryland Clean Car and Energy Policy Task Force, 2007-2010; Education Committee, Southern Legislative Conference, 2008-; Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment, 2008; Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2004-2008; State Advisory Council on Administrative Hearings, 2007-; Commission on Civic Literacy, 2007-; State Coordinator, Legislators' Back-to-School Program, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2007-; Chair, State Higher Education Labor Relations Board, 2001-2005; Redistricting Task Force, City of Takoma Park, 1990; Former Member, Hate Crimes Commission, Montgomery County; Former Member, Gun Policy Task Force, City of Takoma Park.

Memberships

Board of Directors, FairVote, The Center for Voting and Democracy, 2006; Massachusetts Bar Association; District of Columbia Bar Association; Maryland Bar Association.

Awards

Legislator of the Year Award, Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2012; Young Leader, French-American Foundation, 2000-2002; Scholar-Teacher of the Year, American University, 2000-2001.

Biographical Information

Born, Washington, DC, December 13, 1962; Georgetown Day High School, 1979; Harvard College, B.A., Government, magna cum laude, 1983; Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1987 (Editor, Harvard Law Review); Benjamin A. Trustman Travelling Fellowship, 1983-84; Teaching Fellow, Harvard University Government Department, 1985-1987; Assistant Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1987-1989; General Counsel, National Rainbow Coalition, 1989-1990; Professor of Law, The Washington College of Law, American University, 1990-; Associate Dean, Faculty and Academic Affairs, The Washington College of Law, American University, 1994-96; Founder and Director, Marshall-Brennan Fellowship Program, American University, 1999-; Visiting Professor, Institut D'Etudes Sciences Politique, Paris, France, 2003-04; Taught International Trade and Human Rights in Argentina and Chile, Summer 2005; Lecturer throughout France for the U.S. Embassy; Author; Married, Three children.