Governor announces commission to fill two Frederick County judge vacancies

Clara Niel, The Frederick News-Post, Md.
·2 min read

Oct. 5—Gov. Wes Moore on Thursday appointed a commission that will help fill two circuit court judge vacancies in Frederick County.

Circuit Court Judge Theresa M. Adams retired in September, Bradley Tanner, a spokesman with the Maryland Judiciary, wrote in an email Thursday.

Circuit Court Judge Julie Stevenson Solt will retire in December.

The new Frederick County Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission will receive and review applications, interview candidates and recommend finalists. It's up to Moore to pick the new judge.

Thirteen people were appointed to the Frederick County Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission on Thursday:

— Denise A. Hicks Brown, a family law attorney with Conklyn and Kemp in downtown Frederick. Brown will be the chair of the commission.

— Joyce Roldan King, the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office's chief counsel

— Rachel O. Reyes, assistant public defender in the Frederick County Office of the Public Defender

— David C. Weaver, owner of a practice concentrated on civil litigation, and business and transactional law

— David A. Severn, a practicing lawyer in Frederick County since 1980

— Carla N. Clarke, a partner at civil litigation and family law firm Flynn and Clarke

— Elizabeth Rae Long, associate at the Law Offices of Marc S. Ward

— Teresa Ann Mena, a regional business solutions consultant in Maryland, and previous member of the Frederick County Judicial Nominating Commission

— Gwendolen C. Lesh McLeod, family law attorney

— Lorraine M.B. Prete, partner with family law firm Kaslick and Prete

— Lawrence E. Finegan, sole practitioner at a general practice focusing on family law, mediation, criminal defense and civil litigation

— Shondell H. Foster, family law attorney with dlaw

— Scott M. Hartinger, partner with Etheridge, Quinn, Kemp, Rowan and Hartinger

Applications for Adams' seat are not open yet.

However, the nominating commission will start with two people who previously applied for a circuit court judge seat — Magistrate Joanmarie Raymond Brubaker and Magistrate Julia Ann Minner.

Since they were nominated for a previous vacancy but not chosen, their names remain in the pool for two years.

Solt's vacancy hasn't been posted yet since her retirement won't take effect until December, Tanner wrote.

There are 16 Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commissions in Maryland. The governor appoints the commissions.

The commissions post judicial vacancies, get feedback from the public and members of the judiciary and bar associations for recommendations on candidates, and consider applicants based on a variety of factors.

After the governor appoints someone to a Circuit Court seat, the new judge must stand for election for a 15-year term in the next general election that's at least one year after the date of the vacancy.

Follow Clara Niel on Twitter: @clarasniel