What was once Bessie M. Decker's temporary job is now potentially a lifetime appointment.

Decker, 53, was sworn in April 1 as clerk of the Maryland Court of Appeals, nearly a quarter-century after she was first placed by a temp agency in the Administrative Office of the Courts. She succeeds Alexander L. Cummings, who retired after serving as clerk since 1983.

Decker was previously chief deputy and had been acting-clerk since last May. She becomes the first woman to be named clerk of the state's top appellate court.

"I'm proud of that and extremely honored the court has confidence in me," she said.

Decker, the 26th clerk in the court's history, will supervise a staff of eight and is responsible for overseeing the docket, receiving briefs and transcripts associated with cases, and keeping official custody of court decisions. The clerk serves at the pleasure of the Court of Appeals.

Decker's new position is the only one she has not held in the clerk's office since she started working there in 1984. She believes her diverse background helped in her appointment by the court's judges.

"It's such a specialized part of the legal field," she said. "Experience does a lot. You know the ins and outs of things."

Chief Judge Robert M. Bell said Decker's experience was only part of the reason why she was selected.

"She's one of those people you meet and think you've known forever," he said. "Despite her efficiency, she maintains her humanity."

Expert by chance

Decker became an expert in the ways of the court by chance. She was a medical assistant prepared to work at what is now Baltimore Washington Medical Center in the mid-1980s when the hospital instituted a hiring freeze. So she contacted the temp agency, leading to the position in the court system she grew to love despite not having any legal training.

That changed a decade ago when Decker went back to school to get her paralegal degree. She started taking classes as a way to boost her chances to replace the retiring chief deputy in the clerk's office. She was named chief deputy in 1999.

"I wanted the court to know I was serious about this," she said.

Darwin Decker was not surprised by his wife's decision.

"She's the type of person that when she sets a goal, she reaches it," he said. "She's worked very hard to get where she is."

Bessie Decker is quick to point out the help she's received along the way from her family and the court's judges. But she cites learning under Cummings as the best help of all, noting how he made the clerk's office well-known for being friendly and available to the court and its constituents. Cummings allowed Decker to observe the court's inner-workings while she was chief deputy, which she said made for an easy transition.

"He always strived for professionalism and perfection," Decker said. "We're here not just to serve the court, but also the attorneys and the public."

Bell agreed. "It's a result of his leadership that we have such a strong office," he said.

A court spokesman said Cummings was unavailable for comment.

Among Decker's first duties as clerk is to find a new chief deputy, as she has been her own chief deputy since she was named acting-clerk. Decker said she hopes to fill the position by the summer. She also wants to continue making the clerk's office more digital, eventually putting the court's entire case management system online.

Outside of the clerk's office, Decker is secretary of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks and an associate member of the Maryland State Bar Association. She enjoys spending time with her daughter and two grandchildren and reading (what else?) legal thrillers by David Baldacci and John Grisham. The Deckers are also active at Kent Island United Methodist Church near their home in Chester.

Asked her favorite part of her job, Decker first mentioned the people she works with, but then changed her mind.

"I love it all," she said. "I loved being the chief deputy and I think I'm going to enjoy being the clerk."

Copyright 2008