D.C. courtrooms have seen an influx of low-level offense and gun possession cases since the start of the federal law enforcement surge, several judges said during a community town hall on Thursday night.

The event, which featured a panel made up of judges and attorneys, also offered residents insight into what their rights are during interactions with federal law enforcement.

Milton Lee, chief judge of the D.C. Superior Court, said judicial vacancies are complicating matters. By January, there will be 15 vacancies on the Superior Court, Lee said.

Lee described a significant increase in “lower-level misdemeanor cases” — things such as fare evasion, unlawful possession or use of marijuana in public, possession of an open container of alcohol and gambling.

While the surge didn’t result in

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