People often wonder why these judges are running for an election. The Maryland Constitution requires Circuit Court Judges to stand for election after being appointment. The Governor of Maryland undertakes a comprehensive vetting process to appoint a new judge when a vacancy occurs on the Circuit Court. Pursuant to a Gubernatorial Executive Order, the Baltimore County Judicial Nominating Commission vets and nominates lawyers to fill vacancies on the Circuit Court. Lawyers who are nominated by the commission meet exceptional standards of legal aptitude and must be the “most distinguished for integrity, wisdom and sound legal knowledge” as dictated by the Maryland Constitution.

The Maryland Constitution requires that Circuit Court Judges, once appointed, must run in the election after their appointment to be retained.

Judges running for judicial office are obligated under the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct to not take a position on matters that are likely to come before them as a judge (Canon 5(B)(1)(d)). Click here for the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct, found in the Maryland Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 16-813.