Diane O. Leasure biography

Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Diane O. Leasure
MSA SC 3520-12369

Biography:

Born in Cumberland, Maryland, June 11, 1952. Attended Allegany High School, Cumberland; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1970-72; Glassboro State College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1974; Drexel University, M.S., 1977; Rutgers University School of Law, J.D., 1982. Admitted to the Maryland bar, 1982.

Circuit Administrative Judge, 5th Judicial Circuit (Anne Arundel, Carroll & Howard counties), January 4, 2002 to November 4, 2011. County Administrative Judge, Howard County Circuit Court, 5th Judicial Circuit, January 4, 2002 to November 4, 2011. Resigned November 4, 2011. Associate Judge, November 13, 1995 to January 4, 2002. Member, Criminal Law and Procedure Committee, 1997-2000, 2001-09, Family and Domestic Relations Law Committee, 2000-01, Judicial Council, 2000-05, 2008-10, Judicial Compensation Committee, 2002-11, and Judicial Cabinet, 2008-10, Maryland Judicial Conference. Member, Circuit Court Libraries Study Committee, 2000-01. Chair, Conference of Circuit Judges, December 4, 2008 to December 4, 2010 (vice-chair, December 4, 2004 to December 4, 2008; circuit representative, 5th judicial circuit, 1996-2002; executive committee, 2002-11). Member, Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2008-10. Chair, State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, 2011-.

Member, State Advisory Council on Administrative Hearings, 2012-.

Teacher, West Deptford Middle School, West Deptford, New Jersey, 1974-77. Adjunct faculty, Glassboro State College, 1976-80. Faculty, Cook College, Rutgers University, 1977-79. Principal, Fossett & Brugger, 1988-95 (associate, 1982-88). Member, American Bar Association; Federal Bar Association (board of governors, 1994); Maryland State Bar Association (judicial administration section; board of governors, 1995; executive committee, 1995; judicial administration council, 2006-08; chair, committee on planning, 1995; chair, special committee on citizenship & law-related education, 2002-; co-chair, special committee on leadership academy); Virginia State Bar Association; Women's Bar Association of Maryland (long-range planning committee, 1995). President, Howard County Bar Association, 2004- (president-elect, 2003-04). Member, Prince George's County Bar Association (president, 1994-95). Member, Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Maryland Association for Justice (formerly Maryland Trial Lawyers Association); Marlborough Inn of Court. Board of Trustees, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL). President's Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Bar and the Community, Prince George's County Bar Association, 1991, 1994. President's Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of outstanding service to the Bar, Prince George's County Bar Association, 1993. Maryland Leadership in Law Award, Daily Record, 2004, 2007. Anselm Sodaro Judicial Civility Award, Maryland State Bar Association, 2008. Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2009, 2011.

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