COURT OF APPEALS

Chief Judge:
Frederick W. Brune, Fourth Appellate Circuit Baltimore, 1971

Associate Judges:

William R. Homey, First Appellate Circuit Centreville, 1973
Hall Hammond, Second Appellate Circuit Stevenson, 1969
Stedman Prescott, Third Appellate Circuit Rockville, 1973
William L. Henderson, Fourth Appellate Circuit Baltimore, 1961
James Lloyd Young, Clerk of the Court
Virginia T. Sandrock, Chief Deputy Clerk
Olive Jane Richards, Deputy Clerk I
Viola J. Brown, Deputy Clerk II
Edward H. Hammond, The State Reporter

Court of Appeals Bldg., Annapolis Telephone: Colonial 3-4261

The Court of Appeals is the highest tribunal of the State of Mary-
land. It was created by the Constitution of 1776. From 1777 to 1806 the
Court sat in Annapolis, on the Western Shore. Between 1805 and 1851
it sat at Easton on the Eastern Shore, as well. Since 1851 the Court has
met only at Annapolis.

By the terms of the reorganization Act of 1943, the Court is com-
posed of five judges, one being elected from each of the first three
Appellate Judicial Circuits and two from the Fourth Appellate Judicial
Circuit, which is Baltimore City. The terms of the Judges are for
fifteen years The Governor designates the Chief Judge.

The Court hears appeals from the decisions of the Circuit Courts for
the counties and the several courts of Baltimore and also considers
applications for leave to appeal denial of relief under the Post Con-
viction Procedure Act (Code 1957, Art. 27, sees. 645A-645J). The
Court also admits all eligible candidates to the State Bar. The term
of the Court begins the second Monday of September in each year.

The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals is the chief administrative
officer of the State's judiciary. The Court of Appeals makes rules for
the conduct of its own practice and procedure and that of the various
trial courts of the State. The Chief Judge may also assign the Judges
of the various Circuits to duties in other Circuits and to the Court of
Appeals for any purpose.

The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is appointed by the Court. He is
the administrative officer of the Court. He maintains the docket, re-
ceives the briefs and transcripts of all appeals filed with the Court,
and maintains official custody of the decisions of the Court, the Acts
of the General Assembly, and of all other records which the law may
require to be filed with the Court.

The State Reporter, also appointed by the Court, is responsible for
the publication of the Maryland Reports, which contain the official
opinions of the Court (Const. 1867, Art. IV, sees. 14-18A).

JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURTS
FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

(Composed of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Dorchester counties)

W. Laird Henry, Jr., Chief Cambridge 1961
E. McMaster Duer Princess Anne 1969
Rex A. Taylor Salisbury 1969
Godfrey Child Pocomoke 1960