Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Vicki Ballou-Watts
MSA SC 3520-12455

Biography:

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, c. 1958.  Attended Howard University, B.A. with honors (journalism), 1980; University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1983.  Admitted to the Maryland bar, 1984.

Associate Judge, Baltimore County Circuit Court, 3rd Judicial Circuit, since May 29, 2002. Member, Equal Justice Committee, 2020- (chair, community outreach subcommittee, 2020-), Judicial Council; Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, 2020-. Associate Judge, District Court of Maryland, District 8, Baltimore County, February 22, 1999 to May 28, 2002. Member, Judicial Education Committee, 2001-02, District Court of Maryland. Panel attorney, Public Defender's Office, Baltimore City, 1988-99. Inquiry Panel, Attorney Grievance Commission, 1998-99. Member, Armed Services Academy Nomination Panel, 2nd Congressional District, 2003-.

Associate, Gerald A. Smith & Associates, 1984-87. Sole practitioner, 1987-99. Instructor, Professionalism Course for New Admittees, Maryland State Bar Association, 2000-. President, Baltimore County Bar Association, 2015-16 (select committee on gender equality, 2002; advocate committee, 2012-; secretary, 2013-; chair, professionalism committee, 2001-02; chair, continuing legal education committee, 2002-03; executive council, 2007-; president-elect, 2014-15). Member, Maryland Trial Lawyers' Association (board of governors, 1996-99). Member, Baltimore County Advisory Board, Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, 2002-05. Board of Directors, Carver Center for the Arts and Technology Foundation, 2003-05. Board of Directors, Maryland Chapter, National Association of Women Judges, 2003- (secretary, 2005-07). Board of Directors, GBMC HealthCare, Inc., 2005-14. Member, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., for Baltimore County; Baltimore County Alumni Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Social Action Award, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 2002. Certificate of Recognition for support of domestic violence victims, Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, 2002. Award for Outstanding Community Service, Woodlawn-Westview Rotary Club, 2003. Award of Excellence for government service, Maryland Women for Responsive Government, 2003. Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service to the Maryland Legal Community, Black Women's Bar Association of Suburban Maryland, Inc., 2004. Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2004, 2006, 2008 (Circle of Excellence). Maryland Leadership in Law Award, Daily Record, 2011. Trailblazer Award, Baltimore County Chapter, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 2012. Trustee Board, First Baptist Church of Guilford, 2001-07.

Link to Extended Biography

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