The Hon. Russell F. Canan (Ret.) is a senior associate judge for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Canan was appointed to the bench by former President Bill Clinton in 1993. He assumed senior status on February 3, 2018.
Canan has held assignments on the Committee on Wrongful Convictions and the Committee on the Selection and Tenure of Magistrate Judges. He has also served as the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division, and he has chaired the Criminal Advisory Rules Committee.
Prior to his appointment, Canan worked as a partner at Canan, Kiersh & Lobo, Milliken, Van Susteren & Canan, and Canan, Burns & O’Toole (1973 to 1983). During his tenure in private practice, Canan specialized in criminal defense and civil rights matters, supplementing his practice with service to the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta.
Canan earned a J.D. from Antioch School of Law.
After graduating from law school, Canan began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. John D. Fauntleroy of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He subsequently served as a staff attorney in the Legal Assistance Branch of the Superior Court.
Canan was born in New York City. Before pursuing his legal education, he worked in health education, assisting with the creation of health clinics for migrant farm workers.