c/o Administrative Office of the Courts
Maryland Judicial Center
580 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-1256
e-mail: deborah.unitus@courts.state.md.us
fax: (410) 974-2169
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).
Each commission consists of thirteen members. Six are lawyers: two appointed by the Governor; four elected by members of the Maryland State Bar Association (within designated geographical areas). The Governor also selects six lay members. Chosen 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.
1st COMMISSION DISTRICT (Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties)
Martin Terrence Neat, Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Harland I. Cottman, Esq.; Julia E. Foxwell; Virginia L. Jenkins; Jean S. Laws, Esq.; James Francis Morris; John D. Smack, Jr.; Kathleen E. Smith, Esq.; Warren Garrison White. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 1st Commission District: Joseph E. Moore, Esq.; James Harrison Phillips III, Esq.; Paul A. Price, Esq.; Kirk G. Simpkins, Esq.
2nd COMMISSION DISTRICT (Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties)
Doris P. Scott, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: William F. Burkley; William D. Fossett; Thomas M. Groce, Jr.; Alvin L. Helfenbein, Jr.; Cristina H. Landskroener, Esq; Marguerite W. Mankin; Gene A. Price; Brenda A. Sexton. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 2nd Commission District: Edward D. E. Rollins III, Esq.; James Elmer Thompson, Jr., Esq.; H. Norman Wilson, Jr., Esq.; David C. Wright, Esq.
3rd COMMISSION DISTRICT (Baltimore County)
Dunbar Brooks, Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Willie M. Benson; Kara C. King Bess; Wayne R. Gioioso, Sr.; Mary G. Loker, Esq.; Gloria K. McJilton; Thomas Minkin, Esq.; Gregory J. Morgan; Beverly Penn. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 3rd Commission District: Alfred L. Brennan, Jr., Esq.; Melissa D. Gray, Esq.; G. Warren Mix, Esq.; Stephen J. Nolan, Esq.
4th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Harford County)
Richard D. Norling, Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Cassandra R. Beverley, Esq.; Joseph Bond; Rev. Violet V. Hopkins-Tann; Mary B. Sullivan; Mary E. Warfield; Leonard D. Wheeler, Ed.D.; Margaret R. Woodward; Albert J. A. Young, Esq. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 4th Commission District: Maria K. Caruso, Esq.; John B. Kane, Esq.; Michael E. Leaf, Esq.; Robert S. Lynch; Diane L. Sengstacke, Esq.
5th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Allegany & Garrett Counties)
Hugh A. McMullen, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Stephen J. Herman, Ph.D.; Craig M. Ingram, Esq.; William M. Kenny; Dorothy R. Leuba; Phyllis R. MacVeigh; Brian G. Malloy; Mary Ann D. Moen, Esq.; Linda A. Pecoraro. Terms expire 2003.
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)
Jeanne Ann Davis, Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Willie E. Conyers; Francis R. Ford; Jane Larkin Hershey; Carol Noel Moller; Susan A. Nicholson, Esq.; Ross H. Rhoads; Barbara A. Rodenhiser; Arthur Schneider, Esq. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 6th Commission District: Richard Wilson Douglas, Esq.; E. Kenneth Grove, Jr., Esq.; John Hammond Urner, Esq.; Brett R. Wilson, Esq.
7th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Anne Arundel County)
Maureen E. Quinn, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Patricia L. Aiken; M. Marita Carroll; S. Hamilton Chaney; James L. Gregory; W. Ray Huff; Ramocille S. Johnson; Catherine E. Stavely, Esq.; Michael D. Steinhardt, Esq. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 7th Commission District: George S. Lantzas, Esq.; Timothy E. Meredith, Esq.; Paula J. Peters, Esq.; Deborah Lynne Potter, Esq.
8th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Carroll County)
Ethan A. Seidel, Ph.D., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Connie Burk Davis, Esq.; Gregory A. Dorsey, Esq.; Ralph G. Hooper; Cynthia J. Howe; William J. Kempf, Jr.; Karen Kuhn Loats; Janice M. Teeter; S. Ann Weber. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 8th Commission District: William O'Brien Finch, Jr., Esq.; Charles O. Fisher, Sr., Esq.; David E. Kartalia, Esq.; Clark R. Shaffner, Esq.
9th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Howard County)
Ann Moylan Balcerzak, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Ozea Brooks, Esq.; Barbara M. Dandridge; Sherman Howell; Susan Jacobson; Doris H. Ligon; Timothy J. McCrone, Esq.; Linda Sorge Ostovitz, Esq.; Dennis M. Parra, Ph.D. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 9th Commission District: James K. Eagan III, Esq.; Carol A. Hanson, Esq.; Margaret G. Richlin, Esq.; Fred H. Silverstein, Esq.
10th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Frederick County)
Seymour B. Stern, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Elizabeth A. Conklyn; Robert F. Mannis, Ph.D.; Martha B. Rice; Janice B. Rockwell, Esq.; Mary V. Schneider; Terry Neal Shook; Donald Staggers, Sr., Ph.D.; Rebecca Hahn Windsor. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 10th Commission District: Mary Elizabeth Kaslick, Esq.; Julia A. Minner, Esq.; Danny Brian O'Connor, Esq.; Lucien T. Winegar, Esq.
11th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Montgomery County)
Deborah A. Johnston, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Ruth J. B. Bushnell; Charles E. Castle, Jr.; Stanton J. Gildenhorn, Esq.; Stephen A. Hamilton, Esq.; Aris Mardirossian, Ph.D.; Sonia M. Leon Reig; Kim M. Sohn; DeVance Walker, Jr., Ph.D. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 11th Commission District: Paul H. Ethridge, Esq.; Thomas L. Heeney, Esq.; Barry H. Helfand, Esq.; John M. Quinn, Esq.
12th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Calvert & St. Mary's Counties)
Ford L. Dean, Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Sue Ann Lewis Armitage, Esq.; James M. Banagan; Gwendoline D. Bankins; Mark S. Chandlee, Esq.; Vaughn D. Evans, Sr.; Richard L. Holler; J. Abell Longmore, Jr.; Joan Donovan Roach. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 12th Commission District: Thomas G. Axley, Esq.; Janice L. Briscoe, Esq.; John Leon Erly, Esq.; Michelle R. Saunders, Esq.
13th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Prince George's County)
Andre J. Gingles, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Patricia Bonacorda; Rev. Eva L. Clark; Mary H. Godfrey; Nuria Alvarez Grant; Bridgette A. Greer, Esq.; Emory A. Harman; Arthur J. Horne, Jr., Esq.; Kay Meinhardt. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 13th Commission District: Robert C. Bonsib, Esq.; Christopher R. Dunn, Esq.; Walter E. Laake, Jr., Esq.; Thomas A. McManus, Esq.
14th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Baltimore City)
Kenneth L. Thompson, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Jennifer Burdick; Elizabeth Chen; Veronica Henderson; Dana C. Petersen, Esq.; Darren W. Petty; Rosetta M. T. Stith, Ph.D.; James L. Wiggins, Esq.; Garland O. Williamson, Esq. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 14th Commission District: Arthur S. Alperstein, Esq.; Paul D. Bekman, Esq.; Robert L. Ferguson, Jr., Esq.; Sheila K. Sachs, Esq.
15th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Charles County)
Keith A. Hettel, Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Marie L. Duffield; William R. Greer, Jr., Esq.; Salome Freeman Howard; Louis P. Jenkins, Jr., Esq.; John M. Sine, Ph.D.; Carmella Davis Watkins; Jean Middleton Winkler. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 15th Commission District: Rudolf A. Carrico, Jr., Esq.; Stephen P. Fitzgerald, Esq.; David J. Martinez, Esq.; Elizabeth D. Theobalds, Esq.
16th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Caroline, Dorchester & Talbot Counties)
George D. Brennan II, Chair (chosen by Governor)
Appointed by Governor: Louis C. Andrews; Dale F. Carrier; Robert S. Collison, Esq.; Betty W. Crothers, Esq.; Hilliard E. Gardner, D.V.M.; Gladys H. Giddens; Anne W. Ryan; Evelyn W. Townsend. Terms expire 2003.
Elected by lawyers in 16th Commission District: Dennis J. Farina, Esq.; Demetrius G. Kaouris, Esq.; Ronald C. Kent, Esq.; Edward H. Nabb, Jr., Esq.
© Copyright April 10, 2001 Maryland State Archives