C. Yvonne Holt-Stone
MSA SC 3520-11815
Extended Biography:
C. Yvonne Holt-Stone did not begin her career in the field of law, but since she made the switch she has had great success. After deciding to pursue the law, Holt-Stone progressed rapidly, soon becoming the second African-American woman judge in the state of Maryland.1
Judge Holt-Stone was born on February 26, 1950, in Washington, D.C. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Morgan State University and a master's in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973. She worked in Baltimore for a number of years, first as a district planner for the Baltimore City Planning Department and then as a specialist for the Baltimore City Public Schools.
Then Holt-Stone decided to follow a new direction, going back to school to study law. By 1979 she had earned her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. She adjusted well to her new career, working as assistant state's attorney for Howard County for a year before becoming master-in-chancery for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. During part of this time, she also served as an instructor at the University of Maryland School of Law. In 1991, Holt-Stone was named a district court judge for Baltimore City, becoming only the second African American woman to hold this position. Since her appointment, she has presided over a variety of cases, including minor criminal cases involving drugs and prostitution, along with more serious cases of rape or homicide. During her tenure as a judge, Holt-Stone has been involved with the STEP-Drug Court, which seeks to provide "an innovative alternative to the traditional, fragmented method of handling criminal cases by uniting the criminal justice, treatment and human services communities in an effort to break the cycle of drug driven criminal behavior." The program's objective is rehabilitation with minimal recidivism, cost, and risk to the community.2
Judge Holt-Stone has been an active member of the Maryland legal community. She is a member of the Maryland State, Baltimore City and Monumental City Bar Associations, has served on a number of committees, and is a past member of the American Bar Association. Holt-Stone has been involved with the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, the University of Maryland School of Law Alumni Association, and the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL). She served on the Advisory Board of the Black American Law Students Association at the University of Maryland School of Law for a number of years and is a board member of the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges. In 1999, Holt-Stone participated in the University of Baltimore School of Law a.m. Law Series, delivering a lecture on "Trial Preparation and Presentation in District Court."3 In order to help future generations of lawyers and judges, he has tutored law students studying for the bar exam and worked closely with interns for the Maryland District Court.4
Holt-Stone also contributes a good deal of her time to organizations outside of the legal community. She has served as a board member and vice-president of the Health and Welfare Council of Central Maryland, president of the Harbor City Chapter of Links Inc., secretary of the Black-Jewish Forum of Baltimore (BL-EWS), and board member of the Baltimore Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Leadership Committee of Greater Baltimore, and the African American Steering Committee of the Walters Art Gallery. In addition, Judge Holt-Stone has served as an elder of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and on the board of Rho Xi Omega Charities.5
Holt-Stone’s community involvement and legal work have been recognized by a number of organizations. She was named 1994’s Distinguished Black Marylander by Towson State University and honored by the Bar Association of Baltimore City in the same year. The Monumental City Bar Association presented her with the Distinguished Service Award in 1995, and the Baltimore Chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women honored her with their Professional Achievement Award two years later. In 2000 Judge Holt-Stone was recognized by The Daily Record as one of Maryland's Top 100 Women for her many achievements.6
Notes:
1. Maryland's Top 100 Women (2000), The Daily Record on-line (http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/holt-stone.html).
2. S.T.E.P. Manual, on-line (http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/spa/justice/publications/manual2.htm).
3. University of Baltimore School of Law, a.m. law series, on-line (http://law.ubalt.edu/centers/amlaw/archive.html#1999).
4. Maryland's Top 100 Women (2000), The Daily Record on-line (http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/holt-stone.html).
6. Maryland's Top 100 Women (2000), The Daily Record
on-line (http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/holt-stone.html).
Biography written by Jennifer Copeland, 2002 summer intern, Maryland State Archives
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