JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSIONS

TRIAL COURTS JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSIONS

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).

Maryland Judicial Center, Annapolis, Maryland, August 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

1st COMMISSION DISTRICT (Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties)
James V. Anthenelli, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Fannie W. Birckhead; D'Arcy Nicole Green, Esq.; Elton P. Maddox, Jr.; Robert K. McIntosh, Esq.; Melody S. Nelson; Gabriel L. Purnell; John C. Seipp, Esq.; Wade D. Ward, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association presidents in 1st Commission District: William C. Hudson, Esq.; Robert E. Laird, Jr., Esq.; James Harrison Phillips III, Esq.; Thomas Joseph Spain, Esq.

2nd COMMISSION DISTRICT (Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties)
Cristina H. Landskroener, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Elizabeth L. J. H. Crow; Barbara B. Cusimano; Charles W. Jagoe; Marguerite W. Mankin; Stephen Z. Meehan, Esq.; William H. Meserole, Esq.; William Foster Riddle, Esq.; Thomas N. Yeager, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association presidents 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)
Wayne R. Gioioso, Sr., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Kathy M. Blue, Esq.; Robert C. Erlandson, Esq.; Carol L. Hirschburg; David B. Irwin, Esq.; Gloria K. McJilton; April Oh Park, Esq.; Myron C. Williams; Drake C. Zaharris, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 3rd Commission District: Gary S. Bernstein, Esq.; Alfred L. Brennan, Jr., Esq.; G. Warren Mix, Esq.; Alexander Wright, Jr., Esq.

4th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Harford County)
J. Richard Moore III, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Margie M. DeLeaver; Patricia A. Dresher; James E. Edwards, Jr., Esq.; Rosemary T. Hajek; John S. Karas, Esq.; Daniel J. Moore, Esq.; Annmarie S. Profili, Esq.; Barbara J. White Richardson, Esq.; Daniel W. Sweeney. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 4th Commission District: John B. Kane, Esq.; Robert S. Lynch; Diane L. Sengstacke, Esq.; one vacancy.

5th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Allegany & Garrett Counties)
Wendell R. Beitzel, Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: M. Kathryn Burkey; Stephen J. Herman, Ph.D.; Craig M. Ingram, Esq.; Bruce A. Kirkwood, Esq.; Terri Ann Lowery, Esq.; Phyllis R. MacVeigh; George V. McKinley, Esq.; Michael A. Noonan, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association presidents in 5th Commission District: William S. Hidey, Esq.; Thomas R. Janes, Esq.; William M. Rudd, Esq.; Stephen C. Wilkinson, Esq.

6th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Washington County)
John Hammond Urner, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Peggy Sue Bushey; E. Kenneth Grove, Jr., Esq.; Steven G. Hull, Esq.; James D. Johnson, Jr., Esq.; Judith M. Kofoet; Carol E. Mendelsohn; Susan A. Nicholson, Esq.; William M. Schildt, Esq.; John A. Ziegler. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 6th Commission District: Kirk C. Downey, Esq.; Christopher Joliet, Esq.; James W. Stone, Jr., Esq.; one vacancy.

7th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Anne Arundel County)
Charles E. Iliff, Jr., Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Samuel J. Brown, Esq.; Ratih D. Hughes; J. William Pitcher, Esq.; Laura M. Robinson, Esq.; Marilyn M. Sabatini; Nancy S. Schoenberg; Mary A. Schumaker; Edwin H. Staples II, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 7th Commission District: Allen W. Cohen, Esq.; George S. Lantzas, Esq.; Peter S. O'Neill, Esq.; Paula J. Peters, Esq.

8th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Carroll County)
Robert M. Wheeler, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Bette J. Beard; F. Lynette Brewer; Stanley Dill; William O'Brien Finch, Jr., Esq.; Daniel H. Green, Esq.; David R. Peloquin; Samantha Z. Smith, Esq.; Elwood E. Swam, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 8th Commission District: Gregory A. Dorsey, Esq.; Melissa O. Hockensmith, Esq.; Keith D. Saylor, Esq.; Clark R. Shaffer, Esq.

9th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Howard County)
Michael W. Davis, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: H. Stacey Boyer, Esq.; Janet Moye Cornick, Ed.D.; Karen J. Ely; Robb S. Mackie II; Peter J. McNamara, Esq.; William H. Morstein, Esq.; Randall K. Nixon; Melissa M. Phinn, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 9th Commission District: James K. Eagan III, Esq.; Richard D. Gelfman, Esq.; Cornelia Bright Gordon, Esq.; Jolie Gelman Weinberg, Esq.

10th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Frederick County)
David C. Weaver, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Sallie M. Brinkley; Denise H. Brown; Jesse Goode, Jr.; Rania P. Lizas, Esq.; Joseph S. McCauley; Scott D. Miller, Esq.; Patricia F. O'Connor, Esq.; Tod P. Salisbury, Esq.; Douglas K. Thornton, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 10th Commission District: Bryon C. Black, Esq.; Richard P. Bricken, Esq.; Mary Elizabeth Kaslick, Esq.; one vacancy.

11th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Montgomery County)
Terrence M. R. Zic, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Minerva T. Eng; Lucy Gail Gies; Felix B. Laboy; Harry W. Lerch, Esq.; Aris Mardirossian, Ph.D.; Kristine A. M. Sullivan, Esq.; Charles E. Wilson, Jr., Esq.; James S. Wilson, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 11th Commission District: Barry H. Helfand, Esq.; John P. Kudel, Esq.; John M. Quinn, Esq.; Donna E. Van Scoy, Esq.

12th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Calvert & St. Mary's Counties)
Mark A. MacDougall, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Glenn E. Bailey; Robert S. Crum, Esq.; Pamela R. Lucas, Esq.; Joeday F. Newsom, Esq.; Ruth N. Reid; Della R. Stull; Michael B. Suessmann, Esq.; G. Michael Thompson. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association presidents in 12th Commission District: Sue Ann Lewis Armitage, Esq.; Janice L. Briscoe, Esq.; John Leon Erly, Esq.; Mark J. Palumbo, Esq.

13th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Prince George's County)
Andre J. Gingles, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Samuel Y. Botts, Sr., Esq.; Andrew V. Colevas; Charles A. Dukes, Jr., Esq.; Richard J. Jaklitsch, Esq.; Josephine A. Lynch, Esq.; Gertrude S. Neff; Vesharn N. Scales; Wendi M. Williams. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 13th Commission District: Robert C. Bonsib, Esq.; Christopher R. Dunn, Esq.; Arthur J. Horne, Jr., Esq.; Walter E. Laake, Jr., Esq.

14th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Baltimore City)
Kenneth L. Thompson, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Marion D. Baker; J. Michael Connelly, Jr.; David J. McManus, Jr., Esq.; William H. Murphy, Jr., Esq.; Carolyn O'Keefe; Alice G. Pinderhughes, Esq.; Donna H. Triptow; Jefferson V. Wright, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association presidents in 14th Commission District: Arthur S. Alperstein, Esq.; Michael J. Baxter, Esq.; Paul D. Bekman, Esq.; Robert L. Ferguson, Jr., Esq.

15th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Charles County)
William R. Greer, Jr., Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Barbara F. (Bobbie) Baldus; William H. Braxton; Roger L. Fink, Esq.; Louis P. Jenkins, Jr., Esq.; Daphne Ann Morris, Esq.; Stephen H. Scott, Esq.; George W. Watkins; J. Michael Wilson. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association president in 15th Commission District: George E. Andrews, Esq.; William C. Fanning, Jr., Esq.; Michael J. Schreyer, Esq.; Jerome R. Spencer, Esq.

16th COMMISSION DISTRICT (Caroline, Dorchester & Talbot Counties)
Brynja M. Booth, Esq., Chair (chosen by Governor)

Appointed by Governor: Rev. Dane A. Coleman; Mitchell J. Cornwell, Esq.; Broughton M. Earnest, Esq.; Dennis J. Farina, Esq.; Lloyd Fooks, Jr.; Tracie T. Lahman; William W. McAllister, Esq.; Lord Scott; Sharon M. Vanemburg, Esq. Terms expire 2007.

Elected by bar association presidents in 16th Commission District: Roland C. Kent, Esq.; Anne C. Ogletree, Esq.; George M. Radcliffe, Esq.; one vacancy.

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