WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 2

Defined terms: "Department" § 1-101
"Judge" § 3-101 "Tax Court" § 3-101

3-106. MEMBERSHIP.

(A)  COMPOSITION; APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES.

(1)  THE TAX COURT CONSISTS OF 5 JUDGES APPOINTED BY
THE GOVERNOR FROM THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE STATE.

(2)  OF THE 5 JUDGES, THE CHIEF JUDGE AND AT LEAST 1
OTHER JUDGE SHALL BE MEMBERS OF THE BAR OF THE STATE.

(3)  OF THE 5 JUDGES, AT LEAST:

(I)  1 SHALL BE A RESIDENT OF BALTIMORE CITY;

(II)  1 SHALL BE A RESIDENT OF THE EASTERN
SHORE; AND

(III)  1 SHALL BE A RESIDENT OF THE WESTERN
SHORE.

(B)  POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

THE TAX COURT MAY NOT INCLUDE MORE THAN 3 JUDGES FROM THE
SAME POLITICAL PARTY.

(C)  OATH.

BEFORE TAKING OFFICE, EACH APPOINTEE TO THE TAX COURT SHALL
TAKE THE OATH REQUIRED BY ARTICLE I, § 9 OF THE MARYLAND
CONSTITUTION.

(D)  TENURE; VACANCIES.

(1)  THE TERM OF A JUDGE IS 6 YEARS AND BEGINS ON THE
1ST MONDAY IN JUNE.

(2)  THE TERMS OF JUDGES ARE STAGGERED AS REQUIRED BY
THE TERMS PROVIDED FOR THE JUDGES OF THE TAX COURT ON JANUARY 1,
1989.

(3)  AT THE END OF A TERM, A JUDGE CONTINUES TO SERVE
UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES.

(4)  A JUDGE WHO IS APPOINTED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN
SERVES ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS
APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES.

(E)  REMOVAL.

THE GOVERNOR MAY REMOVE A JUDGE FOR INCOMPETENCE OR
MISCONDUCT.

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