c/o Administrative Office of the Courts
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building
361 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 974-2141
Appointed by Governor (who names chair):
Elected by lawyers in Circuit:
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Harland I. Cottman; Julia E. Foxwell; Jean S. Laws, Esq.; James F. Morris; John D. Smack, Jr.; Kathleen E. Smith, Esq.; Warren Garrison White; William L. Wilkinson. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 1st Commission District: Kathleen L. Beckstead, Esq.; Charles A. Bruce, Jr., Esq.; David C. Gaskill, Esq.; Henry L. Vinyard, Esq.
2nd COMMISSION DISTRICT (Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties)
Doris P. Scott, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): William F. Burkley; Thomas M. Groce, Jr.; Christina H. Landskroener, Esq; Marguerite W. Mankin; James O. Pippin, Jr.; Gene A. Price; Sharon C. Walla, Esq.; Elizabeth L. Yerkes.
Elected by lawyers in 2nd Commission District: Jennifer L. Hammond, Esq.; Jeffrey E. Thompson, Esq.; Patrick E. Thompson, Esq.; David C. Wright, Esq.
3rd COMMISSION DISTRICT (Baltimore County)
Deborah S. Byrnes, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Roslyn D. Benjamin; Willie M. Benson; Wayne R. Gioioso, Sr.; William L. Jews; Gloria K. McJilton; Lisa Lynn Mervis, Esq.; Thomas Minkin, Esq.; Beverly Penn. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 3rd Commission District: Alfred L. Brennan, Jr., Esq.; G. Warren Mix, Esq.; John J. Nagle, Esq.; Stephen J. Nolan, Esq.
4th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Harford County)
Richard D. Norling, Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Rev. C. Anthony Hunt; Rhonda B. Lipkin, Esq.; Mary B. Sullivan; David D. R. Thomey; Christine E. Tolbert; Albert J. A. Young, Esq.; two vacancies. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 4th Commission District: Maria K. Caruso, Esq.; John B. Kane, Esq.; Michael E. Leaf, Esq.; Diane L. Sengstacke, Esq.
5th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Allegany & Garrett Counties)
Hugh A. McMullen, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): John H. Balch; Anne L. Gormer; Stephen J. Herman; Craig M. Ingram, Esq.; Dorothy R. Leuba; Phyllis R. MacVeigh; Constance E. Margison; Linda M. Thomas, Esq. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 5th Commission District: Lee A. Caplan, Esq.; William S. Hidey, Esq.; Thomas R. Janes, Esq.; Stephen C. Wilkinson, Esq.
6th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Washington County)
Paul C. Mellott, Jr., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Francis R. Ford; Jane L. Hershey; Rev. Philip Hundley; Susan A. Nicholson, Esq.; Ross H. Rhoads; Barbara A. Rodenhiser; Arthur Schneider, Esq.; Susan L. Tuckwell. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 6th Commission District: Thomas M. DiGirolamo, Esq.; Daniel P. Dwyer, Esq.; Christopher Joliet, Esq.; M. Lynn Williams, Esq.
7th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Anne Arundel County)
George S. Lantzas, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Patricia L. Aiken; Mary Marita Carroll; James L. Gregory; Janet L. Hardesty; Ramocille S. Johnson; Daniel D. Nataf, Ph.D.; Paula J. Peters, Esq.; Barbara G. Taylor, Esq. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 7th Commission District: Timothy E. Meredith, Esq.; Michael D. Steinhardt, Esq.; Douglas R. Twigg, Esq.; J. Michael Wachs, Esq.
8th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Carroll County)
Ethan A. Seidel, Ph.D., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Joseph H. Beaver, Jr.; Roy L. Chiavacci; Coleen S. Clemente, Esq.; Connie Burk Davis, Esq.; Linda C. Galvin; Alvin L. Howes, Sr.; Kevin B. Smith; S. Ann Weber. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 8th Commission District: J. Barry Hughes, Esq.; J. Brooks Leahy, Esq.; Clark R. Shaffer, Esq.; David B. Weisgerber, Esq.
9th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Howard County)
David A. Carney, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Ann Moylan Balcerzak, Esq.; D. Ronald Brasher; Tobey G. Brehm, Esq.; Ozea Brooks; J. P. Blase Cooke; Traci R. Dove; Doris H. Ligon; Dennis M. Parra, Ph.D. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 9th Commission District: James K. Eagan III, Esq.; Margaret G. Richlin, Esq.; Barry Silber, Esq.; Fred H. Silverstein, Esq.
10th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Frederick County)
E. Rebecca H. Windsor, Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Linda Pappas Funsch; Donald C. Linton; Leslie A. Powell, Esq.; Janice B. Rockwell, Esq.; Mary V. Schneider; Terry Neal Shook; Donald Staggers, Sr.; John P. Wilbur. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 10th Commission District: Karen J. Krask, Esq.; Julia A. Minner, Esq.; Danny Brian O'Connor, Esq.; Lucien T. Winegar, Esq.
11th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Montgomery County)
Judith R. Catterton, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Ruth J. B. Bushnell; Charles E. Castle, Jr.; Lynda E. Earle, Esq.; Aris Mardirossian; Sonia M. Leon Reig; Kim M. Sohn; Rebecca N. Strandberg, Esq.; DeVance Walker, Jr. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 11th Commission District: Thomas L. Heeney, Esq.; Barry H. Helfand, Esq.; Deane A. Shure, Esq.; Charles E. Wilson, Jr., Esq.
12th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Calvert & St. Mary's Counties)
Ford L. Dean, Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Thomas G. Axley, Esq.; James M. Banagan; Gwendoline D. Bankins; Vaughn D. Evans, Sr.; Y. D. Hance; Sue Ann Lewis, Esq.; John K. Parlett, Jr.; Joan Donovan Roach. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 12th Commission District: Janice Briscoe Baldwin, Esq.; Julian J. Izydore, Esq.; Renee J. Lafayette, Esq.; Gregory Wells, Esq.
13th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Prince George's County)
Andre J. Gingles, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Alda A. Anderson, Esq.; Patricia Bonacorda; Nancy P. Crawford; Nuria Alvarez Grant; Emory A. Harman; Arthur J. Horne, Jr., Esq.; William J. Jefferson, Jr.; Kay Meinhardt. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 13th Commission District: Robert C. Bonsib, Esq.; Edward P. Camus, Esq.; Christopher R. Dunn, Esq.; Walter E. Laake, Jr., Esq.
14th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Baltimore City)
George L. Russell, Jr., Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Andrew M. Brooks; Elizabeth Chen; Michael M. Hart; Veronica Henderson; Harry S. Johnson, Esq.; Kara C. King-Bess; Susan Souder, Esq.; Garland O. Williamson. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 14th Commission District: Arthur S. Alperstein, Esq.; Paul D. Bekman, Esq.; Sheila K. Sachs, Esq.; Lynn K. Stewart, Esq.
15th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Charles County)
Stephen J. Braun, Esq., Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Amy J. Bragunier, Esq.; Francis C. Garner; Keith A. Hettel; Salome F. Howard; John M. Sine, Ph.D.; Merle K. Turner, Esq.; Carmella D. Watkins; Jean M. Winkler. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 15th Commission District: Rudolf A. Carrico, Jr., Esq.; David Harris Chapman, Esq.; Stephen P. Fitzgerald, Esq.; Sue Ann Greer, Esq.
16th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Caroline, Dorchester & Talbot Counties)
George D. Brennan II, Chair
Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Louis C. Andrew; Robert S. Collison, Esq.; Betty W. Crothers, Esq.; Hilliard E. Gardner, D.V.M.; Gladys H. Giddens; Anne W. Ryan; Kathleen O. Tieder; Evelyn W. Townsend. Terms expire 1999.
Elected by lawyers in 16th Commission District: John G. Billmyre, Esq.; Dennis J. Farina, Esq.; Karen M. Kaludis, Esq.; Connie G. Marvel, Esq.
In 1970, the Governor by executive order established statewide judicial nominating commissions to propose nominees for appointment to the appellate courts, and regional commissions to perform the same function for trial court vacancies. The commissions began operation in 1971. The commissions were reconstituted by the Governor in 1991 (Executive Order 01.01.1991.05) and in 1995 (Executive Orders 01.01.1995.06/ 07/ 10/ 13). Each judicial vacancy filled pursuant to the Governor's appointing power must be filled from a list of nominees submitted by one of these nominating commissions.
When a judicial vacancy occurs or is pending, the Administrative Office of the Courts notifies the appropriate nominating commission and then solicits applications by press announcements and from interested bar associations. Applications received are distributed to the commission members.
After the filing deadline for a vacancy has passed, the nominating commission meets to consider applications and relevant information, such as recommendations from citizens and bar associations. Each candidate is interviewed by the full commission or by commission panels. By secret written ballot, the commission then prepares a list of those candidates deemed legally and professionally most fully qualified for judicial office. No applicant may be added to the list without the affirmative vote of a majority of the commission members present at a voting session. The list is forwarded to the Governor who must make the appointment from it.
APPELLATE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION
Albert D. Brault, Esq., Chair
361 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 974-2141
The Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission nominates candidates for the Court of Appeals and the Court of Special Appeals.
The Commission is composed of seventeen members. The Governor, who chooses the chair, appoints one member from each of the seven appellate judicial circuits, one at-large member, and one member of the Maryland Bar. The remaining eight members are lawyers elected by the Maryland State Bar Association.
TRIAL COURTS JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSIONS
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building
361 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 974-2141
Sixteen Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commissions recommend nominees for Circuit Courts and District Courts. Each commission consists of thirteen members. Six are lawyers: four elected by members of the Maryland State Bar Association within designated geographical areas; two appointed by the Governor. Six are lay members chosen by the Governor. Named by the Governor, the chair may be either a lawyer or a lay person. Terms extend to the date of qualification of the Governor after election, and until their successors are duly chosen. The Administrative Office of the Courts is the secretariat to each commission.
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