Joseph M. Getty, MSA SC 3520-12229

Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Joseph M. Getty
MSA SC 3520-12229

Biography:

Born in Olney, Maryland, April 14, 1952. Washington College, B.A., American studies, 1974; George Washington University, M.A., American civilization, 1980; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1996. Admitted to the Maryland Bar, 1996. Married; six children.

General Assembly:
Member of Senate, District 5 (Baltimore County & Carroll County) January 12, 2011 to January 23, 2015. Republican. Resigned January 23, 2015. Member, Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting, 2011-12; Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2011-13; Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government, 2011-14; Task Force to Study Court Decision regarding Pit Bulls, 2012; Work Group to Review Disclosure Requirements of the Public Ethics Law, 2012-13; Budget and Taxation Committee, 2013-15; Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 2011-15; Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform, 2012-15; Spending Affordability Committee, 2013-15; Legislative Policy Committee, 2015; Joint Audit Committee, 2015; Executive Nominations Committee, 2015. Minority Whip, 2013-14. Senate Chair, Carroll County Delegation, 2011-12, 2014.

Member of House of Delegates, January 11, 1995 to January 8, 2003, representing District 5 (Carroll County). Member, Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1995-98 (state government & civil rights subcommittee, 1995-98). Deputy Minority Whip, 1999-2002. Member, Judiciary Committee, 1999-2003 (family & juvenile law subcommittee, 1999-2003); Article 27 (crimes & punishments) Revision Committee, 1999-2003.

Private Career and Other Public Service:
Chief Judge, Court of Appeals, since September 11, 2021 (Judge, 3rd Appellate Judicial Circuit (Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard & Washington counties), June 27, 2016 to September 10, 2021. Chair, Maryland Judicial Conference, 2021- (chair, judicial council, 2021-). Chair, Library Committee, Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, 2021- (member, 2019-). Member, Judges, Masters and Juvenile Justice Committee, 2021-. Chair, Hall of Records Commission, 2021-. Chair, Judicial Cabinet, 2021-. Member, Legislative Committee, Judicial Council, 2017-20.

Chief Legislative Officer, Office of Governor, January 23, 2015-June 2016.

Policy and Legislative Director, Office of Governor, 2004-07 (director of policy, 2003). Member, Cable Television Advisory Committee, Carroll County, 1989-93; Rural Historic Village Protection Program Advisory Committee of Maryland Environmental Trust, 1990-. Member, Charter Board, Carroll County, 1992. Member, Task Force to Review the State's Election Law, 1995; Commission to Revise the Election Code, 1996-97; Forensic Sciences Task Force, 2000-01; Committee on Access to Court Records, 2001-02. Director of Policy, Governor-elect's Transition Team, 2002-03. Member, Social Studies Task Force, State Department of Education, 2004-06; Task Force to Study the Laws and Policies relating to Representation of Indigent Criminal Defendants by the Office of the Public Defender, 2012-14; Commission on Child Custody Decision Making, 2013-14; Task Force to Study Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland, 2013-14. Member, Task Force to Ensure Retirement Security for All Marylanders, 2014-15. Member, Governor-elect's Transition Team, 2014-15.

Attorney. Member, Maryland State Bar Association (section of family & juvenile law; section of solo & small firm practice). Acting Director, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1981-82. Architectural historian & historic preservation researcher/writer, 1982-87. Executive Director, Historical Society of Carroll County, 1987-94. Board of Governors, Union Mills Homestead Foundation, 1979-92. Chair, Carroll County Committee for Maryland's 350th Anniversary, 1983-84. Board of Directors, Preservation Maryland, 1984-90. Member, Carroll County Historic District Commission, 1989-92 (chair, 1992); Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, 1990-94 (legislative committee). Political Director, Ehrlich for Governor, 2002. Chair, Carroll County Republican Central Committee, 2002-03 (chair, 1991-92; member 1985-94). Carroll County Chair, Mitt Romney Campaign, 2012. Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 2012. Author, Uniontown, Maryland-Walking Tour (1983); Carroll's Heritage: Essays on the Architecture of a Piedmont Maryland County (1987); The Engine of Liberty & Uniontown Advertiser (1993).

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