Science Advisory Board Dr. Kara Levinson Confirmation Resolution of 2025
Summary
This resolution confirms Dr. Kara Levinson to serve on the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences Science Advisory Board as the board’s statistician member. The appointment fills a vacant seat formerly held by Dr. Jeanne Jordan and is for the remainder of an unexpired term ending April 18, 2028. The resolution cites the Confirmation Act of 1978 and the Department of Forensic Sciences Establishment Act of 2011 as the legal basis for the appointment.
The bill itself is narrowly focused on personnel confirmation rather than changing substantive policy. It authorizes the Council to approve a specific nominee and directs that copies of the adopted resolution be transmitted to the nominee and the Mayor. If adopted, it would update the membership of the Science Advisory Board but would not amend the structure of the Department of Forensic Sciences or alter criminal justice, laboratory, or public health statutes beyond filling this board position.
Impact
The resolution affects District law only to the extent that it confirms a new member to the Science Advisory Board established under the Department of Forensic Sciences Establishment Act of 2011. It does not create new regulatory requirements or change existing statutory duties; instead, it fills an existing vacancy on an advisory body that supports forensic science oversight and expertise. The practical impact is on board composition and advisory capacity, particularly in the area of statistics and scientific methodology.
Sentiment
The available record suggests a routine and favorable confirmation process. The Mayor formally nominated Dr. Levinson, provided a detailed curriculum vitae highlighting extensive public health laboratory leadership and scientific credentials, and the Office of the General Counsel found the resolution legally unobjectionable. No committee transcripts or recorded votes are included, and there is no indication of opposition or controversy in the materials provided.
Contention
There is little apparent contention in the record. The only substantive qualification embedded in the resolution is that the appointee must be a scientist with experience in scientific research and methodology, published in peer-reviewed journals, and not currently employed by the Department or a law enforcement laboratory or agency. Those criteria appear to be met by the nominee, and the materials do not show any dispute over her qualifications, the vacancy being filled, or the role of the Science Advisory Board.