12TH COMMISSION DISTRICT
(Calvert & St. Mary's Counties)
John Milton Sine, Chairperson
Appointed by Governor (who also designates chair):
James M. Banagan; Samuel A. Bergin; Shirley E.
Colleary; Albertine Thomas Lancaster; Julie T.
Mitchell; Dr. Sanford Hardaway Wilson.
Elected by lawyers in 12th Commission District: Karen
H. Abrams; David Harris Chapman; Michael
Andrew Genz; Thomas C. Hayden, Jr.; David F.
Jenny; Thomas Lamer Starkey.
13TH COMMISSION DISTRICT
(Prince George's County)
Vacancy, Chairperson
Appointed by Governor (who also designates chair):
Linda W. Bocts; James T. Culbreath; Otis Ducker;
Annette Funn; Emory Harman; Dorothy
Troutman.
Elected by lawyers in 13th Commission District:
Edward P. Camus; Ralph W. Powers, Jr.; G.
Richard Collins, Jr.; Howard Edward Goldman;
Bruce Lawrence Marcus; James H. Taylor, Jr.
14TH COMMISSION DISTRICT
(Baltimore City)
Nelson I. Fishman, Chairperson
Appointed by Governor (who also designates chair):
JohnB. Ferron; Michael M. Hart; William L. Jews;
Sally Michel; Rosetta Stith; William H. C. Wilson.
Elected by lawyers in 14th Commission District: Peter
F. Axelrad; Paul D. Bekman; Louise Michaux
Gonzales; Paula M. Junghans; Theodore S. Miller;
Kenneth L. Thompson.
15TH COMMISSION DISTRICT
(Charles County)
Appointed by Governor (who also designates chair): not
yet appointed
Elected by lawyers in 15th Commission District: not yet
elected
COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL
DISABILITIES
Chairperson: Theodore G. Bloom, Associate
Judge, Court of Special Appeals, 1995
Appointed by Governor: George J. Helinski, 1992;
Barbara Kerr Howe, 1992; Martha Eleanor
Church, Ph.D., 1993; Nathan Patz, 1993; Charles
0. Fisher, Sr., 1995; G. R. Hovey Johnson, 1995.
Howard E. Wallin, Executive Secretary
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Judiciary/607
University of Baltimore
1420 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201 625-3086
The Commission on Judicial Disabilities was
established in 1966 by constitutional amendment
(Chapter 773, Acts of 1965; Const., Art. IV sec.
4A). The Commission is empowered to investigate
complaints against members of the Maryland
Judiciary It conducts hearings or takes informal
action as it deems necessary, provided that the judge
involved has been properly notified.
To determine whether to initiate formal
proceedings, the Commission conducts a prelimi-
nary investigation after which a hearing may be held
regarding the judge's alleged misconduct or dis-
ability If, as a result of these hearings, die Commis-
sion, by majority vote, decides that a judge should
be retired, removed, censured, or publicly
reprimanded, it recommends that course of action
to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals may
order a more severe discipline of the judge than the
Commission recommends. The Commission also
has the power, in limited situations, to issue a
private reprimand.
The Commission's primary function is to receive,
investigate, and hear complaints against Maryland
judges. Formal complaints must be in writing and
notarized, but no particular form is required. In-
dividuals also may write or call the Commission to
express dissatisfaction concerning the outcome of a
case or some judicial ruling.
The Commission also supplies judicial nominat-
ing commissions with confidential information con-
cerning reprimands to or pending charges against
those judges seeking nomination to judicial offices
(Md. Rule 1227).
The Commission consists of seven members ap-
pointed by the Governor. Members include four
judges presently serving on the bench, two mem-
bers of the bar who have been engaged in legal
practice for at least fifteen years, and one lay person
representing the public (Code Courts and Judicial
Proceedings Article, sees. 13-401 through 13-403;
Md. Rule 1227).
STATE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS
Charles H. Dorsey, Jr., Chairperson, 1993
Appointed by Court of Appeals: William F. Abell, Jr.,
1991; Jonathan A. Azrael, 1991; John F. Mudd,
1992; Christopher B. Kehoc, 1994; Robert H.
Reinhart, 1995; Pamela J. White, 1995.
Bedford T. Bentley, Jr., Secretary
District Court Building, Suite 403
580 Taylor Ave
Annapolis, MD 21401 974-2140
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