State officials seeking applicants for seat on district court bench

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

Lawyers seeking the job eventually will go before a judicial nominating commission of attorneys and other people from St. Mary's and Calvert counties appointed to the panel.

The commission's members will forward the names of the lawyers they recommend for the judgeship to the state's governor, who will choose the new judge.

Lawyers interested in applying for the judgeship can request a personal data questionnaire from Deborah A. Unitus or Debra L. Kaminski from the Administrative Office of the Courts, by calling 410-260-1291 or the Maryland Relay Service (TTY/voice) 1-800-735-2258. The personal data questionnaire is also available online at www.mdcourts.gov.

Any applicant who filed a personal data questionnaire within the past two years to the nominating commission need not file a new questionnaire. The candidate may submit a letter stating that he or she is reapplying and submit any changes that have occurred since the submission of the earlier questionnaire.

The completed personal data questionnaire and two writing samples, at least 16 copies, must be received by Unitus or Kaminski by Wednesday, Oct. 21, in their office at the Administrative Office of the Courts, Program Services, 2001-D Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.

St. Mary's attorney Sue Ann Lewis Armitage chairs the judicial nominating commission. The other lawyers on the panel are Janice L. Briscoe, Cynthia Panos, D. Anne Emery, Lisa Smith Sanders, John L. Erly, Julie A. Schejbal, Dorothy Gardner Hodge, Jackson G. Upton and Alan Lander. Other members of the panel are Jane Margaret O'Brien, Mark R. Frazer and Dixie C. Miller.

Christy Holt Chesser, the county attorney for St. Mary's, has said that she plans to apply for the judgeship. Theodore Weiner, St. Mary's deputy state's attorney, has said that he is considering his options.

jwharton@somdnews.com