1. Home
  2. |Professionals
  3. |Jennifer C. Mika

Jennifer C. Mika

Counsel | She/Her/Hers
Counsel | She/Her/Hers
am1pa2FAY3Jvd2VsbC5jb20=
VCardLinkedIn
VCardLinkedIn

Areas of Focus

Overview

Jen Mika is a seasoned litigator and regulatory counselor who advises health systems, managed care plans, and other institutional clients on innovative legal solutions. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in government practice, Jen offers clients deep knowledge of compliance with federal and local health care law and a winning track record litigating complex issues. Her distinguished career in government focused on protecting vulnerable populations and included senior roles at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General, and District of Columbia Department on Disability Services.

Most recently, Jen served as the Pretrial Mental Health Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. In this role, she provided specialized guidance on prosecuting cases in which defendants raise mental health issues, such as competency to stand trial and insanity. Jen successfully first chaired eight contested competency trials involving complex issues related to the diagnosis of major mental illnesses and intellectual and developmental disabilities and the implications of these diagnoses on a defendant’s ability to understand criminal proceedings. In addition to her work in the courtroom, Jen was instrumental in improving coordination between District agencies and mental health providers and encouraged the use of diversion programs such as Mental Health Community Court.

Jen is also considered a leading authority on Elder Law in the District of Columbia. In addition to her years of experience litigating fiduciary and probate matters, she was the District of Columbia’s first prosecutor solely focused on investigating and prosecuting financial exploitation of elders and vulnerable adults. She successfully handled the first jury trial involving the charge of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person, and obtained convictions in cases involving bank employees, members of the clergy, and home health aides exploiting the elders and vulnerable adults. Jen regularly discusses financial exploitation issues on behalf of the government with the press and at events organized by the DOJ Elder Justice Initiative, D.C. Bar, and various D.C. agencies and non-profit organizations.

Jen has extensive experience finding legislative solutions for her clients.  She has testified before the D.C. Council several times to provide valued insight on various successful legislative initiatives for which she was the principal drafter, including the Disability Services Reform Amendment Act of 2018 (Law 22-93), which ended involuntary civil commitment and established supported decision making for people with disabilities.

Career & Education

|

    • District of Columbia
      • Senior Assistant United States Attorney and Pretrial Mental Health Coordinator, 2021–2024
      • Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, 2018–2021
      • Assistant General Counsel, District of Columbia Department on Disability Services, 2013–2018
    • District of Columbia
      • Senior Assistant United States Attorney and Pretrial Mental Health Coordinator, 2021–2024
      • Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, 2018–2021
      • Assistant General Counsel, District of Columbia Department on Disability Services, 2013–2018

    • Adjunct Associate Professor, Elder Law and Legal Rhetoric, American University Washington College of Law, 2012–Present
    • Adjunct Associate Professor, Elder Law and Legal Rhetoric, American University Washington College of Law, 2012–Present

    • American University Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2011
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with distinction, 2006

      International Studies Honor’s Thesis; Willie P. Mangum Medal in Oratory

    • American University Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2011
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with distinction, 2006

      International Studies Honor’s Thesis; Willie P. Mangum Medal in Oratory

    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • Supreme Court of the United States

    • Judge Kenia Seoane López, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
    • Judge Aida Melendez, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
    • Judge Elizabeth Wingo, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
    • Judge Russell F. Canan, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
    • Judge Kenia Seoane López, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
    • Judge Aida Melendez, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
    • Judge Elizabeth Wingo, Superior Court for the District of Columbia
    • Judge Russell F. Canan, Superior Court for the District of Columbia

    • Women’s Bar Association, District of Columbia
    • Women’s Bar Association, District of Columbia

Jennifer's Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.20.24

End of Year Regulations on Interoperability

Federal policy efforts to advance health data exchange and interoperability are continuing to change rapidly. The latest changes are the publication of two final rules by the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) finalizing parts of the of the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-2) Proposed Rule. These rules adopt requirements regarding the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) (HTI-2 Final Rule), and create a new Information Blocking exception under Protecting Care Access (HTI-3 Final Rule), on December 16thand 17th, respectively....

View All Insights

Representative Matters

  • Successfully investigated and prosecuted two bank employees charged with financially exploiting a 72-year-old military widow with diminished capacity.
  • Successfully investigated and prosecuted a pastor charged with financially exploiting multiple elderly women.
  • Successfully investigated and prosecuted nursing home employee and home health aid charged with Financial Exploitation of Elderly and Vulnerable Adults

Jennifer's Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.20.24

End of Year Regulations on Interoperability

Federal policy efforts to advance health data exchange and interoperability are continuing to change rapidly. The latest changes are the publication of two final rules by the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) finalizing parts of the of the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-2) Proposed Rule. These rules adopt requirements regarding the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) (HTI-2 Final Rule), and create a new Information Blocking exception under Protecting Care Access (HTI-3 Final Rule), on December 16thand 17th, respectively....

View All Insights

Recognition

  • United States Attorney’s Award for Creativity and Innovation, 2023
  • Office of the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for a Trial in an Affirmative Case, 2020
  • Executive Office of the United States Attorney’s Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, 2020

Jennifer's Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.20.24

End of Year Regulations on Interoperability

Federal policy efforts to advance health data exchange and interoperability are continuing to change rapidly. The latest changes are the publication of two final rules by the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) finalizing parts of the of the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-2) Proposed Rule. These rules adopt requirements regarding the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) (HTI-2 Final Rule), and create a new Information Blocking exception under Protecting Care Access (HTI-3 Final Rule), on December 16thand 17th, respectively....

View All Insights

Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.20.24

End of Year Regulations on Interoperability

Speaking Engagement | 10.24.24

“Selling Involuntary Medication in the District of Columbia: An Overview of Historical and Current Practices to Inform Clinical Approaches and Policy,” American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Publication | 2017

"The Noteworthy Absence of Women Advocates at the United States Supreme Court," American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law: Vol. 25 : Iss. 1 , Article 2.

Publication | 01.14.13

Reactions to the Persistent Gender Disparity in Student Note Publication, 2012 MICH. ST. L. REV. 1685
|

View All Insights

Practices

Jennifer's Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.20.24

End of Year Regulations on Interoperability

Federal policy efforts to advance health data exchange and interoperability are continuing to change rapidly. The latest changes are the publication of two final rules by the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) finalizing parts of the of the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-2) Proposed Rule. These rules adopt requirements regarding the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) (HTI-2 Final Rule), and create a new Information Blocking exception under Protecting Care Access (HTI-3 Final Rule), on December 16thand 17th, respectively....

View All Insights