Appellate Court of Maryland
Established1966
LocationAnnapolis, Maryland, United States
Composition methodAppointment by the Governor of Maryland
Authorized byMd. Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code Ann. § 1-401
Number of positions15
Chief Judge
CurrentlyE. Gregory Wells
SinceApril 15, 2022

The Appellate Court of Maryland is the intermediate appellate court for the U.S. state of Maryland. The Appellate Court of Maryland was created in 1966 in response to the rapidly growing caseload in the Supreme Court of Maryland. Like the state's highest court, the tribunal meets in the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building in the state capital, Annapolis.

The Appellate Court of Maryland originally could hear only criminal cases. However, its jurisdiction has expanded so that it now considers any reviewable judgment, decree, order, or other action of the circuit and orphans’ courts, unless otherwise provided by law. Judges sitting on the Appellate Court of Maryland generally hear and decide cases in panels of three. In some instances, however, all 15 judges may listen to a case, known as an en banc hearing.

A ballot proposal in the 2022 general election asked Maryland voters whether to change the court's name from the Maryland Court of Special Appeals to the Appellate Court of Maryland.[1] The measure was approved by 74.2% of voters on November 8, 2022.[2][3] It changed to this name on December 14, 2022.[4]

Judges

Appointment and qualifications

Seal as the Court of Special Appeals.

The fifteen judges of the Appellate Court of Maryland are appointed by the Governor of Maryland with Senate consent. They serve ten-year terms.

The Judges of the court are required to be citizens of and qualified voters in Maryland. Prior to their appointment, they must have resided in Maryland for at least five years, and for at least six months in the appellate judicial circuit from which they are appointed. They must be at least thirty years of age at the time of appointment, and must have been admitted to practice law in Maryland. Appointees should be "most distinguished for integrity, wisdom and sound legal knowledge."

After initial appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate, members of the court, at the first general election occurring at least one year after their appointment, run for continuance in office on their records without opposition. If the voters reject the retention in office of a judge, or the vote is tied, the office becomes vacant. Otherwise, the incumbent judge is retained in office for a ten-year term. This requirement of voter approval is similar to provisions of the Missouri Plan, a non-partisan method for selecting judges which is used by 11 states.

There are eight at large judges and one judge from each of the state's seven Judicial Circuits; the latter are required to be a resident of his or her respective circuit. The circuits are currently as follows:

Maryland Judicial Circuits

Circuit Counties
1 Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties
2 Baltimore County and Harford County
3 Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, and Washington counties
4 Prince George's County
5 Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties
6 Baltimore City
7 Montgomery County

Current judges

CircuitJudge[5]BornJoinedTerm endsMandatory retirementAppointed byLaw school
At-large E. Gregory Wells, Chief Judge June 28, 1961 April 18, 2019 2030 2031 Larry Hogan (R) Virginia
3rd Kathryn Grill Graeff – September 2, 2008 2030 – Martin O'Malley (D) Maryland
1st Christopher B. Kehoe 1953 (age 70–71) January 21, 2009 2030 2023 Martin O'Malley (D) Duke
At-large Stuart R. Berger 1959 (age 64–65) January 25, 2012 2032 2029 Martin O'Malley (D) Baltimore
2nd Douglas R.M. Nazarian October 30, 1966 January 8, 2013 2024 2036 Martin O'Malley (D) Duke
At-large Kevin F. Arthur – March 18, 2014 2024 – Martin O'Malley (D) Maryland
At-large Andrea M. Leahy – March 18, 2014 2024 – Martin O'Malley (D) WCL
6th Michael W. Reed – March 18, 2014 2024 – Martin O'Malley (D) GW Law
At-large Daniel A. Friedman August 27, 1965 September 23, 2014 2026 2035 Martin O'Malley (D) Maryland
At-large Donald E. Beachley 1956 (age 67–68) June 20, 2016 2028 2026 Larry Hogan (R) Maryland
4th Melanie M. Shaw 1957 (age 66–67) June 20, 2016 2028 2027 Larry Hogan (R) Maryland
At-large Terrence M. R. Zic – November 10, 2020 2032 – Larry Hogan (R) Georgetown
5th Laura S. Ripken 1964 (age 59–60) January 17, 2021 2032 2034 Larry Hogan (R) Catholic
7th Rosalyn Tang 1980 (age 43–44) March 3, 2022 2032 2050 Larry Hogan (R) Dedman
At-large Anne K. Albright 1961 (age 62–63) April 20, 2022 2024 2031 Larry Hogan (R) Georgetown

Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
— Christopher B. Kehoe Mandatory retirement January 1, 2024[6] – –

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lash, Steve (April 7, 2021). "Md. voters will vote on name change for appeals courts". The Daily Record. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ↑ Munro, Dana; Opilo, Emily (November 9, 2022). "Maryland to require legislators to live in their districts; state will rename its high court". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Election Day was a "Namechanger": Voters Successfully Rename Maryland's Appellate Courts". November 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ Lash, Steve (November 29, 2022). "Maryland's appellate courts will get new names Dec. 14". The Daily Record. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Judges of the Appellate Court of Maryland". Maryland Courts.
  6. ↑ "Appellate Court (First Appellate Judicial Circuit)". Maryland Courts.
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