District Jurisprudence: The Sources of Legal History of Washington, D.C. in the Home Rule Era

An Annotated Bibliography

Christopher T. Anglim, Professor

University of the District of Columbia and the Washington College of Law at American University

$110.00

The first and only comprehensive guide to Washington, D.C. law in the Home Rule era—where local history meets national impact.

Explore the Legal Legacy of the Nation's Capital

Since Washington, D.C. achieved limited self-governance in 1973, the city’s legal landscape has transformed in complex and far-reaching ways. District Jurisprudence: The Sources of Legal History of Washington, D.C. in the Home Rule Era is the first and only annotated bibliography to comprehensively document and contextualize this pivotal era in the District’s legal evolution.

Authored by Professor Christopher T. Anglim—a seasoned archivist, legal historian, and law librarian—this volume brings together essential legislative, judicial, and executive sources that have shaped D.C.’s modern jurisprudence. Whether you’re a scholar of federalism, a legal researcher, or a policy professional, this work offers indispensable insights into one of the most legally significant jurisdictions in the United States.

Unprecedented Scope

The only legal reference work that fully documents the evolution of Washington, D.C. law during the Home Rule era (1973–present), covering key statutes, legislative sources, and more.

Richly Annotated Entries

Each bibliographic entry includes interpretive notes that explain historical context and legal significance, providing more than just a list—it’s a narrative of the District’s legal development.

Biographies of Legal Leaders

Features biographies of prominent jurists and leaders of the Washington, D.C. Bar whose work shaped the District's legal identity, offering both scholarly reference and human context.

Explore District Jurisprudence: The Sources of Legal History of Washington, D.C. in the Home Rule Era

Summary of Contents

Introduction
Chapter I: Making of a New Nation’s Capital City
Chapter II: How Will the District Be Governed?
Chapter III: The Struggle for Self-Representation, 1961-1974
Chapter IV: The District’s Home Rule Era, 1974-Present
Chapter V: The Relationship Between the District and the Federal Government
Chapter VI: Federal and Local Conflicts Under D.C.’s Home Rule Charter
Chapter VII: Congressional Representation for the District
Chapter VIII: District Autonomy
Chapter IX: Statehood for the District of Columbia
Chapter X: Retrocession
Chapter XI: Criminal Law in the District of Columbia

District Jurisprudence is a landmark work that captures the legal experience of Washington, D.C. during its Home Rule era (1973 to present), a period marked by limited self-governance and far-reaching legal developments. Echoing Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ view that “the life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience,” this book explores how the District’s legal identity has taken shape through political challenges and legislative milestones.

As the nation’s capital, legal decisions in Washington, D.C. often carry national weight. Yet, until now, no comprehensive legal history has been dedicated to this unique jurisdiction. This book fills that gap, offering scholars, legal professionals, and historians a detailed, annotated roadmap to the laws, cases, and institutions that define D.C.’s modern legal framework. Specifically, this work aims to:

Trace the Evolution of D.C. Law

Offers insight into how Washington, D.C.’s legal system has grown and adapted since the Home Rule Act of 1973.

Promote Legal Historiography

Supports scholarship on D.C.'s legal history with a focus on its unique institutional and jurisprudential context.

Fill a Historical Gap

Serves as the first comprehensive legal history of the District, addressing a long-standing gap in legal literature.

Contextualize Key Legal Sources

Provides annotated sources on laws, statutes, and decisions that have defined D.C.'s legal framework.

District Jurisprudence is an essential resource for anyone researching the legal, historical, or governmental evolution of the District of Columbia during its Home Rule era, including:

Law students and professors studying constitutional law, federalism, state and local government, and legal history
Legal historians and scholars interested in present and historical District Law and the development of state-like legal systems in non-state jurisdictions
Judges, attorneys, and legal practitioners who engage with D.C. law or analyze its relationship to federal governance

More Books by Christopher T. Anglim

Sharia (Islamic Law) in the Contemporary World: A Legal Research Guide
Christopher Anglim

Legal Research Guides Series Volume 76

This essential research guide explores the foundations and modern applications of Islamic Law (Sharia), a legal system influencing national laws and global commerce. With both historical context and a comprehensive annotated bibliography, it supports scholars and practitioners in navigating the complexities of Sharia’s doctrinal evolution, contemporary issues, and intersection with secular legal systems.

International Sanctions: A Legal Research Guide
Christopher Anglim

Legal Research Guides Series Volume 91

This accessible guide introduces the legal foundations and operational frameworks of international sanctions, covering their use in global diplomacy, conflict resolution, and economic enforcement. With practical research strategies and an annotated overview of key primary and secondary sources, it examines UN and U.S. sanctions systems from the Cold War to today—making it an essential reference for scholars, legal practitioners, and policymakers.

About the Author

Christopher T. Anglim, Professor

A Minnesota native, Christopher T. Anglim received his J.D. from Arizona State University and his M.L.S. from the University of Arizona. He also has an M.P.A., M.B.A., M.A. in History, M.A. in Homeland Security, and M.A. in Nonprofit Administration. After working with government agencies and private law firms, Anglim began his career as a law librarian. He has worked with academic and law libraries for over 35 years. He presently works for the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. and the Washington College of Law, at American University. He is active in various professional librarian organizations, such as the American Library Association (ALA), Law Library Society of the District of Columbia (LLSDC), the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Council (MARAC), and the Washington Research Librarian Consortium. He was the former chair of the Government Documents Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Librarians. He won the AALL Joseph L. Andrews Bibliographical Award for Excellence in Law Librarian Writing in 2006 for his work Joined in Common Enterprise: A Bibliography on the Origins of Early Anglo-American Partnership Law.

Anglim presently lives in Washington, D.C. He has longstanding interests in legal history, constitutional history, jurisprudence, and librarianship in the digital environment.

Order your copy today!