Tenure

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

Current Assignments

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

2007- Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics

2011- Chair, Senate Select Committee No. 6, Montgomery County

Past Senate Service

Chair, Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform, 2012-2014; Task Force to Study Court Decision Regarding Pit Bulls, 2012.

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.