Court of Appeals
COURT OF APPEALS
Chief Judge:
Robert C. Murphy, Second
Appellate Circuit Towson, 1989
Associate Judges:
Marvin H. Smith, First Appellate
Circuit Federalsburg, 1985
Rita C. Davidson, Third Appellate
Circuit Chevy Chase, 1980
J. Dudley Digges, Fourth
Appellate Circuit LaPlata, 1985
John C. Eldridge, Fifth
Appellate Circuit Annapolis, 1991
Charles E. Orth, Jr., Sixth
Appellate Circuit Baltimore, 1988
Harry A. Cole, Sixth
Appellate Circuit Baltimore, 1988
James H. Norris, Jr., Clerk of the Court
Joseph L. DiSaia, Chief Deputy Clerk
Olive Jane Richards, Deputy Clerk IV
Virginia S. Hubbard, Deputy Clerk III
Mary J. Morris, Deputy Clerk 11
Courts of Appeal Building
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-3341
The Court of Appeals is the highest tribunal of
the State of Maryland. It was created by the
Constitution of 1776. From 1777 to 1805 the
Court sat in Annapolis on the Western Shore. Be-
tween 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 1960,
Ch. 11, the Court is composed of seven judges,
five of whom constitute a quorum. One judge is
elected from each of the first five Appellate Judi-
cial Circuits and two from the Sixth Appellate
Judicial Circuit, which is Baltimore City. The
Judges are appointed by the Governor and hold
office until the next general election following the
expiration of one year from the date of the vacan-
cy, at which time the Judge shall stand election

Judiciary'/345
for continuance in office for a term of ten years.
The Governor designates the Chief Judge.
The Court of Appeals of Maryland has (1) ju-
risdiction to review a case or proceeding pending
in or decided by the Court of Special Appeals in
accordance with applicable law, and (2) exclusive
appellate jurisdiction with respect to a question
of law certified to it under the Uniform Certifica-
tion of Questions of Law Act (Code Courts Arti-
cle, sec. 12-307). The Court also admits all eligi-
ble candidates to the State Bar. The term of the
Court begins the second Monday of September in
each year (Code Courts Article, sees, 12-301 to
12-306).
The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals is the
chief administrative officer of the State's judicia-
ry. The Court of Appeals makes rules for the
conduct of its own practice and procedure and
that of the various courts and districts of the
State. The Chief Judge may also assign the
Judges of the various Circuits to duties in other
Circuits or Districts, the Court of Appeals, and
the Court of Special Appeals for any purpose.
The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is appointed
by the Court. He maintains the docket, receives
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 that the law
may require to be filed with the Court (Const.
1867, Art. IV, sec. 17).
COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS
Chief Judge:
Richard P. Gilbert, Sixth
Appellate Circuit Baltimore, 1987
Associate Judges:
Charles Awdry Thompson, First
Appellate Circuit Cambridge, 1983
H. Kemp MaeDaniel, Second
Appellate Circuit Arbutus, 1980
John P. Moore, Third
Appellate Circuit Rockville, 1984
James F. Couch, Jr., Fourth
Apellate Circuit Adelphi, 1988
James C. Morton, Jr., Fifth
Appellate Circuit Davidsonville, 1983