Judicial Units, Boards, and Commissions
After the filing deadline for the particular va-
cancy has passed, the commission meets and con-
siders the applications and other relevant infor-
mation, such as recommendations from bar
associations or individual citizens. Each candidate
is interviewed either by the full commission or by
commission panels. After discussion of the candi-
dates, the commission compares a list of those it
deems to be "legally and professionally most fully
qualified" for judicial office. This list is prepared
by secret written ballot. A vote may not be taken
unless at least nine of the thirteen commission
members are present, and the name of no appli-
cant may be included on the list unless that ap-
plicant has the affirmative vote of not less than
seven members of the commission. The list is
forwarded to the Governor, who is bound by the
Executive Order to make his appointment from
the commission list.
THE MARYLAND JUDICIAL
CONFERENCE
Chairperson: Robert C. Murphy, Chief Judge,
Court of Appeals
Vacancy, Executive Secretary
Courts of Appeal Building
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2141
The Maryland Judicial Conference was orga-
nized in 1945. It presently exists by virtue of the
provisions of Maryland Rule 1226, which direct
it "to consider the status of judicial business in
the various courts, to devise means for relieving
congestion of dockets where it may be necessary,
to consider improvements of practice and proce-
dure in the courts, to consider and recommend
legislation, and to exchange ideas with respect to
the improvement of the administration of justice
in Maryland and the judicial system in Mary-
land."
The Conference consists of the 211 judges of
the Court of Appeals, the Court of Special Ap-
peals, the circuit courts for the counties and
Baltimore City, and the District Court of Mary-
land. The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals is
its chairperson; the State Court Administrator is
its executive secretary. The Conference meets an-
nually in plenary session. Between these sessions,
its work is conducted by an Executive Committee
and by a number of other committees, as
established by the Executive Committee in con-
sultation with the Chief Judge. In general, the
chairpersons and members of these committees
are appointed by the chairperson of the Executive
Committee, in consultation with the Chief Judge.
The various committees are provided staff sup-
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Judiciary/437
port by personnel of the Administrative Office of
the Courts.
ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE
COMMISSION
Chairperson: M. Peter Moser, 1986
David B. Mitchell, 1983; Charles H. Reed, 1983;
Elizabeth Tennery, 1983; Howard Wood III,
1984; Theodore G. Bloom, 1985; Florence
Udel, 1985; William Walsh, 1985; Bertha W.
Emory, 1986; David A. McNamee, 1986.
Melvin Hirshman, Bar Counsel
District Court Building
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2791
By Rule of the Court of Appeals the Attorney
Grievance Commission was created in 1975 to su-
pervise and administer the discipline and inactive
status of lawyers. The Commission consists of
eight lawyers and two lay persons appointed by
the Court of Appeals for four-year terms. No
member is eligible for reappointment for a term
immediately following the expiration of the mem-
ber's service for one full term of four years. The
chairperson of the Commission is designated by
the Court. The Commission appoints, subject to
approval of the Court of Appeals, a lawyer to
serve as bar counsel and principal executive offi-
cer of the disciplinary system. Duties of the bar
counsel and his staff include investigation of all
matters involving possible misconduct, prosecu-
tion of disciplinary proceedings, and investigation
of petitions for reinstatement.
By the same Rule of Court, the Court of Ap-
peals also established a disciplinary fund to cover
expenses of the Commission and provided for an
Inquiry Committee and a Review Board to act
upon disciplinary cases. The Fund is composed of
annual assessments upon members of the bar as a
condition precedent to the practice of law. The
Review Board consists of eighteen persons. There
are fifteen attorney members and three lay mem-
bers from the State at large. Members serve
three-year terms. Judges are not permitted as
members of the board. The Inquiry Committee
consists of both attorney and lay members (Rule
1100, Chap. BV).
MARYLAND STATE LAW LIBRARY
Library Committee
Chairperson: Robert C. Murphy, Chief Judge,
Court of Appeals
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