HONORABLE JOYCE HENS GREEN Oral History Project The Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit Oral History Project United States Courts The Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit District of Columbia Circuit HONORABLE JOYCE HENS GREEN Interviews conducted by: Jennifer M. Porter, Esquire September 9, September 16, October 6, December 12, 1999 March 3, March 11 , March 13,2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ...................................................................... i Oral History Agreements ... Honorable Joyce Hens Green ............................................. 111 Jennifer M . Porter. Esquire .............................................. vii Oral History Transcript of Interviews September9. 1999 ....................................................... 1 September16. 1999 ..................................................... 36 October6. 1999 ........................................................ 69 December2. 1999 ..................................................... 106 March3. 2001 ........................................................ 143 Marchll. 2001 ....................................................... 209 March13. 2001 ....................................................... 261 Index ..................................................................... A1 Table of Cases and Statutes ................................................... B1 Biographical Sketches Honorable Joyce Hens Green ............................................ C1 Jennifer M . Porter. Esquire ............................................. C5 NOTE The following pages record interviews conducted on the dates indicated. The interviews were electronically recorded, and the transcription was subsequently reviewed and edited by the interviewee. The contents hereof and all literary rights pertaining hereto are governed by, and are subject to, the Oral History Agreements included herewith. 0 1998 Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit. All rights reserved. PREFACE The goal of the Oral History Project of the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit is to preserve the recollections of the judges who sat on the US. Courts of the District of Columbia Circuit, and judges' spouses, lawyers and court staff who played important roles in the history of the Circuit. The Project began in 1991. Most interviews were conducted by volunteers who are members of the Bar of the District of Columbia. Copies of the transcripts of these and additional documents as available - some of which may have been prepared in conjunction with the oral history - are housed in the Judges' Library in the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. Inquiries may be made of the Circuit Librarian as to whether the transcripts are available at other locations. Such original audio tapes of the interviews as exist, as well as the original 3.5" diskettes of the transcripts (in Wordperfect format) are in the custody of the Circuit Executive of the U.S. Courts for the District of Columbia Circuit. -1- B Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit Interviewee Oral History Agreement 1. In consideration of the recording and preservation of my oral history memoir by the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit, Washington, D.C., and its employees and agents (hereinafter "the Society"), and except as otherwise provided herein and in Schedule B attached hereto, I, Joyce Hens Green , do hereby grant and convey to the Society and its successors and assigns all of my rights, title, and interest in the tape recordings, transcripts and computer diskette of interviews of me as described in Schedule A hereto, including literary rights and copyrights. All copies of the tapes, transcripts and diskette are subject to the same restrictions herein provided. 2. The foregoing transfer is subject to the exceptions specified in Schedule B hereto. 3. I also reserve the right to use the tapes, transcripts and diskette and their content as a resource for any book, pamphlet, article or other writing of which I am an author or c 0- author . 4. I authorize the Society, subject to the exceptions specified in Schedule B attached hereto, to duplicate, edit, publish, or permit the use of said tape recordings, transcripts and diskette in any manner that the Society considers appropriate, and I waive any claims I may have or acquire to any royalties from such use. JL-~ L-1 6/27/6; gnature of Interviewee] Date SWOXN 'TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this JTkday of &NC. ,203. Notary Public - L/ MY Commission expires /Q /OGL ACCEPTED this 3p4ay of d% , 200,Iby Daniel M. Gribbon, President of the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit. Daniel M. Gribbon ... -111- ORIGINAL Schedule A Tape recording(s) and transcript resulting from Joyce Hens Green Jennifer Porter (number) interviews of conducted by (Interviewee) (Interviewer) on the following dates?’ Date (Month. Day, Year) Number of Tapes Pages of Transcript 9/1/99 1&2A 1-35 9/16/99 2B, 3A&B 36 - 68 10/6/99 4A&B, 5A 69 - 105 12/2/99 5B, 6A&B 106 - 142 3/3/01 7A&B, 8A&B, 9A&B 143 - 208 3/11/01 10A&B, 11A&B, 12A&B 209 - 260 3/13/01 13A6B 261 - 308 The transcripts of the above-identified interviews are coli tained on one diskette. -1 / Identify specifically for each interview, (1) the date thereof,- (2) the number of tapes being conveyed, and (3) the number of pages of the transcript of that interview. -iv- Schedule B Exceptions to Oral History Agreement (Please initial only those provisions that you wish to apply, and only if you wish to limit the use of your interview.) 1. The entire tape, transcript and diskette shall not be made available to anyone other than myself- without my express written permission until d 8 v t' rn L 13. ao o 3 , [identify date or event] whichever just occurs. 2. The following page(s) of the transcript of the interview of me on [date] , and the tape and diskette relating thereto, shall be closed to all users until [identify date or event], except with my express written permission. 3. 2ri-e It is agreed that the Society shall not authorize publication of the transcript or any part thereof during my lifetime without my express written permission, but that the Society may authorize scholars, researchers and others to make reasonable quotations therefrom without my written permission. 4. It is agreed that the Society shall not authorize publication by others of the transcript or any part thereof, including brief quotations, during my lifetime without my express written permission. 5. I retain all of my right, title, and interest in the tapes, transcripts and diskette and their content, including literary rights and copyrights, until [identify date or event], at which time these rights shall vest in the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit. 6. >&4- In the event of my incapacity, I designate *~17 c.s H 1 GREE I\I of d ai=L e.& 1 BhLTl wok, (me)m, d , a, (address) to make decisions related to the use of the interview of me. Upon the death or incapacity of this designee, I authorize the Society to make such decisions on my behalf. 7. I impose the following conditions: [describe] -V- Standard Form INTERVIEWER ORAL HISTORY AGREEMENT Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit Oral History Agreement of Jennifer M. Porter 1. Having agreed to conduct an oral history interview with Judge Joyce Hens Green for the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit, Washington, D.C., and its employees and agents (hereinafter “the Society”), I, Jennifer M. Porter, do hereby grant and convey to the Society and its successors and assigns, all of my right, title, and interest in the tape recordings, transcripts and computer diskette of interviews, as described in Schedule A hereto, including literary rights and copyrights. 2. I authorize the Society to duplicate, edit, publish, including publication on the internet, or permit the use of said tape recordings, transcriptsand diskette in any manner that the Society considers appropriate, and I waive any claims I may have or acquire to any royalties from such use. 3. I agree that I will make no use of the interview or the information contained therein until it is concluded and edited, or until I receive permission from the Society. ___I---- ---- F [Signature of Interviewer] Date S WORH TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this /b day of ld~ie~j-,-Qx, ,2004. P ACCEPTED this ?5b ’day of hhhb , 20042 by Stephen J. Pollak, President of the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit. n Stepkn Uollak -vii- ORIGINAL Schedule A Tape recording(s) and transcript resulting from Joyce Hens Green Jennifer Porter (number) interviews of conducted by (Interviewee) (I 11ter vi ew er) on the following dates?’ Date (Month. Dall. Year) Number of Tapes Pages of Transcript 9/1/99 1&2A 1-35 9/16/99 2B, 3A6B 36 - 68 10/6/99 4A&B, 5A 69 - 105 12/2/99 5B, 6A&B 106 - 142 3/3/01 7A&B, 8A&B, 9A&B 143 - 208 3/11/01 10A63, 11A&B, 12A&B 209 - 260 3/13/01 13A&B 261 -308 The transcripts of the above-identified interviews are contained on one diskette. a/ Identify specifically for each interview, (1) the date thereof,. (2) the number of tapes being conveyed, and (3) the number of pages of the transcript of that interview. ... -v111- ORAL HISTORY OF HONORABLE JOYCE HENS GREEN First Interview – September 1, 1999 This interview is being conducted on behalf of the Oral History Project of the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit. The interviewee is Judge Joyce Hens Green. The interviewer is Jennifer Porter. The interview is taking place in the judge's chambers at the United States Courthouse on September 1, 1999, beginning at 3:00 in the afternoon. (TAPE 1) MS. PORTER: Judge Green, we've been meaning to do this tape for a long time and now this is finally the day. I want to know for the record here about your childhood and your parents and your family background. Would you like to lead off with the history of your life? JUDGE GREEN: I'll be delighted to do so, particularly since we're on the cusp of the millennium.