Joan Davenport comes to the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings from the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights where she served as a Hearing Examiner from October 2001 until August 2005.

Prior to working with the District of Columbia, Judge Davenport worked with the Baltimore Police Department, and was a Scholar Attorney with the Montgomery County Office of the County Attorney. Judge Davenport was also a community representative for Howard University Law School Dean Kurt L. Schmoke when he was initially elected as the first African American Mayor for Baltimore City. Judge Davenport currently serves as adjunct faculty at both Coppin State University and Johns Hopkins University.

Judge Davenport is an active member of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary, the National Association of Hearing Officials, and the Maryland/DC Association of Administrative Adjudicators. Judge Davenport earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Baltimore, where she is an active member of the Alumni Board of Governors. Judge Davenport is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bars.