The Honorable Meti Abebe

The Honorable Meti Abebe was appointed a magistrate judge by Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring on August 12, 2024, making her the first Ethiopian-American judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Judge Abebe completed high school at the International Community School. She then moved to the U.S. and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from George Washington University, where she was active in the International Students and African Students Associations.

Judge Abebe received her law degree from Howard University School of Law, earning honors in Administrative Law and Problems of World Order. She also participated in the International Law Society.

Judge Abebe’s commitment to public service is evident from her work in South Africa on land reform issues resulting from the Group Areas Act and the segregation of land ownership during Apartheid. This work reinforced her passion for advocacy while working closely with the community.

In 2008, after years of work in D.C., she established her private practice with a focus on immigration law and business contract review. Then in 2016, Judge Abebe expanded her practice to adoption, guardianship, and child neglect law after joining the Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect Attorney panel. She represented individuals and corporations in immigration matters and served as Guardian ad Litem and counsel for parents and foster parents in Family Court.

By organizing workshops and providing pro bono legal services, Judge Abebe has worked to enhance legal literacy and access to justice for immigrant communities. Additionally, she has contributed to the local Ethiopian community by offering language interpretation services, which reflects her commitment to advocacy and support for all those who may encounter barriers to justice.