c/o Program Services, Administrative Office of the Courts
2001-D Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-1291; fax: (410) 260-3570
Nominees for judges of the Circuit Courts and the District Court of Maryland are recommended by sixteen trial courts judicial nominating commissions. These commissions were authorized in 1970 and began operation in 1971 as the Governor's Commissions on Trial Court Judicial Selection (Executive Order, July 17, 1970). In 1991, they were reorganized as Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commissions (Executive Order 01.01.1991.05). The Commissions again were reorganized in 2003 and 2007 (Executive Order 01.01.2003.12; Executive Order 01.01.2007.08). Additional members were added in July 2007 (Executive Order 01.01.2007.11).
Each commission consists of thirteen members. Nine are appointed by the Governor; four are chosen by the presidents of the local bar associations. If appointments by bar association presidents are not made in a timely fashion, the Governor is authorized to appoint the necessary additional members. The chair is chosen by the Governor. 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.
1st COMMISSION DISTRICT (Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties)
James V. Anthenelli, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Kimberly C. Dumpson, Esq.; James B. Emche, Esq.; D'Arcy Nicole Green, Esq.; Kirkland J. Hall; Chris S. Mason, Esq.; Ernest R. Satchell; Raymond C. Shockley, Esq.; Louis H. Taylor; Barbara R. Trader, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association presidents in 1st Commission District: James V. Anthenelli, Esq.; Dana S. Boston, Esq.; Heather E. Stansbury, Esq.; Peter Ayers Wimbrow III, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
2nd COMMISSION DISTRICT (Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties)
Alice S. Ritchie, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Jesse B. Hammock, Esq.; Clarence A. Hawkins, Sr.; Arthur S. Hock; Cristina H. Landskroener, Esq.; John M. McDonald, Esq.; William Foster Riddle, Esq.; Mark W. Saunders; Chris Ann Szep; Katherine E. Wright. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association presidents in 2nd Commission District: William W. Davis, Jr., Esq.; Thomas L. Kemp, Esq.; Carla Lynn Knight, Esq.; Alice S. Ritchie, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
3rd COMMISSION DISTRICT (Baltimore County)
Samuel Blibaum, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Samuel Blibaum, Esq.; Thomas B. Corey; Marla Hollandsworth; Alison D. Kohler, Esq.; Ronald D. Long; Bernard Rhee, Esq.; James T. Smith, Jr., Esq.; Carlos G. Stecco, Esq.; Brian G. Thompson, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 3rd Commission District: Gregory E. Gaskins, Esq.; Robert L. Hanley, Jr., Esq.; David Lawrence Palmer, Esq.; Drake C. Zaharris, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
4th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Harford County)
Laura V. Bearsch, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Penny L. Comeau; Nancy Levy Giorno, Esq.; Maria Pilar Gracia, Esq.; Paul W. Ishak, Esq.; O'Melia V. James; Charles B. Keenan, Jr., Esq.; Amy L. Landbeck Snyder, Esq.; Maria A. Terry; Kevin A. Williams. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 4th Commission District: Laura V. Bearsch, Esq.; Adam S. Hyman, Esq.; Allan G. Nelson, Esq.; Christopher R. VanRoden. Terms expire 2015.
5th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Allegany & Garrett Counties)
James T. Speis, Jr., Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Cathy Ann Ashby; Jane B. Avery; Michael Scott Cohen, Esq.; Jayci Shaw Duncan, Esq.; J. Matthew Gilmore, Esq.; Victor Rezendes; Miriam Sincell, Esq.; Judith N. Thelen, Ph.D.; Frederick H. Voss, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association presidents in 5th Commission District: Donald Scott Goldbloom, Esq.; Amanda D. Mattingly, Esq.; James T. Speis, Jr., Esq.; Stephen C. Wilkinson, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
6th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Washington County)
Patricia K. Cushwa, Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Eric B. Andrews, Esq.; Carolyn Williams Brooks; Patricia K. Cushwa; Jane L. Hershey; Thomas C. Newcomer; John R. Salvatore, Esq.; Robert Schlossberg, Esq.; Arthur Schneider, Esq.; Anne O. Weatherholt. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 6th Commission District: Andrea Chee-a-tow, Esq.; Christopher Joliet, Esq.; Brian A. Kane, Esq.; John Hammond Urner, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
7th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Anne Arundel County)
Thomas J. Fleckenstein, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2011
Appointed by Governor: Rhonda Pindell Charles, Esq.; Sha'Ron D. Crockett; Thomas J. Fleckenstein, Esq.; David L. Hankey, Esq.; Scott H. Hymes; Gregory P. Jimeno, Esq.; Elizabeth Ysla Leight, Esq.; Peter S. O'Neill, Esq.; Robert J. Zarbin, Esq. Terms expire 2011.
Elected by bar association president in 7th Commission District: Jon W. Brassel, Esq.; Stephen P. Krohn, Esq.; David P. Putzi, Esq.; Paul J. Weber, Esq. Terms expire 2011.
8th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Carroll County)
Gregory A. Dorsey, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Zoa D. Barnes, Esq.; Gregory A. Dorsey, Esq.; Julia W. Gouge; Linda A. Holmes, Esq.; Laura Guadalupe Morton-Coleman, Esq.; Thomas Nugent, Esq.; Craig L. Silver, Esq.; Samantha Z. Smith, Esq.; David J. Wildberger, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 8th Commission District: William O'Brien Finch, Jr., Esq.; Charles D. Hollman, Esq.; Michael G. Ritchey, Esq.; Elwood E. Swam, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
9th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Howard County)
Jason A. Shapiro, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Harry R. Adler, Esq.; Ankur P. Dalal, Esq.; Sandra T. Gray; Margaret Ann Nolan, Esq.; Sang W. Oh, Esq.; Bruce I. Rothschild, Esq.; Jason A. Shapiro, Esq.; Fred Howard Silverstein, Esq.; Jolie Gelman Weinberg, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 9th Commission District: Charles L. Fuller, Esq.; Angela B. Grau, Esq.; Lynn M. Marshall, Esq.; Thomas M. Meachum, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
10th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Frederick County)
David C. Weaver, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Denise H. Brown; Joanmarie R. Brubaker, Esq.; Khalil Elshazly; E. Kevin Lollar, Esq.; Robert F. Mannis, Ph.D.; Patricia F. O'Connor, Esq.; Keith N. Schiszik, Esq.; Mayda Colon Tsaknis, Esq.; David C. Weaver, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 10th Commission District: Richard P. Bricken, Esq.; Kathleen D. English, Esq.; Scott M. Hartinger, Esq.; Kelly L. McGill, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
11th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Montgomery County)
William James Chen, Jr., Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Hong Suk Chung, Esq.; Linda Michelle Estrada, Esq.; Jennifer Fairfax, Esq.; Loretta J. Garcia, Esq.; Solomon Graham; Barry H. Helfand, Esq.; Aris Mardirossian; Vera L. White, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 11th Commission District: Nelson I. Burgos, Esq.; Arielle F. Hinton, Esq.; John P. Kudel, Esq.; Donna E. Van Scoy, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
12th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Calvert & St. Mary's Counties)
Sue Ann Lewis Armitage, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Sue Ann Lewis Armitage, Esq.; Charles R. Bailey, Jr., Esq.; Eric C. Brennan; Dorothy Gardner Hodge, Esq.; Alan J. Lander, Esq.; Dixie C. Miller; Jane Margaret O'Brien, Ph.D.; Colleen C. Rathgeb; Julie A. Schejbal, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association presidents in 12th Commission District: D. Anne Emery, Esq.; John Leon Erly, Esq.; Cynthia S. Panos, Esq.; Jackson G. Upton, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
13th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Prince George's County)
Gregory K. Wells, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Abigale Bruce-Watson, Esq.; Jaime L. Contreras; Paolo A. Gnocchi, Esq.; Glenn F. Ivey, Esq.; Tara H. Jackson, Esq.; Bruce A. Johnson, Jr.; ShaRon M. Grayson Kelsey, Esq.; Gregory K. Wells, Esq.; Michael J. Winkelman, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 13th Commission District: Robert C. Bonsib, Esq.; Denise M. Bowman; Bridgette Ann Greer, Esq.; Walter E. Laake, Jr., Esq. Terms expire 2015.
14th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Baltimore City)
David E. Ralph, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Arthur S. Alperstein, Esq.; Eric Lee Bryant; Alan C. Cason, Esq.; Michael Cryor; Marian C. Hwang, Esq.; Kamil Ismail, Esq.; James S. Jacobs, Esq.; David E. Ralph, Esq.; Michael A. Zwaig, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association presidents in 14th Commission District: Paul D. Bekman, Esq.; Robert L. Ferguson, Jr., Esq.; Katherine Kelly Howard, Esq.; Kenneth W. Ravenell, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
15th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Charles County)
Rudolf A. Carrico, Jr., Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: Isaac R. Campbell, Esq.; Rudolf A. Carrico, Jr., Esq.; Mary Sue Greisman, Esq.; Sophia L. Hollis; Louis P. Jenkins, Jr., Esq.; Robert P. Kiesel; John F. Mudd, Esq.; Elridge D. Proctor; Saundra O. Washington, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association president in 15th Commission District: James J. Gorney, Esq.; Joseph C. Hangarter, Esq.; Michele R. Harris, Esq.; Hammad S. Matin, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
16th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Caroline, Dorchester & Talbot Counties)
Robert S. Collison, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor), 2015
Appointed by Governor: William E. Batson; Robert S. Collison, Esq.; Hope R. Harrington; Michael J. Kopen, Esq.; Michael H. Lewis; Rebecca S. Loukides; Anne-Meve C. Ogletree, Esq.; Stephanie A. Shipley, Esq.; Tracie A. Thomas. Terms expire 2015.
Elected by bar association presidents in 16th Commission District: David O. Ault, Esq.; Michael F. Lemire; Christopher R. Robinson, Esq.; Dolores McBride Smith, Esq. Terms expire 2015.
? Copyright Maryland State Archives