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Maryland Court of Appeals elections, 2020
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Three Maryland Court of Appeals justices won retention elections on November 3, 2020.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Maryland modified its absentee/mail-in and candidate filing procedures, early voting, and polling places for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee/mail-in ballot request forms sent to all qualified voters in the general election. The return deadline for absentee/mail-in ballot requests was October 20, 2020.
- Candidate filing procedures: The petition signature requirement for obtaining party status for the Green and Libertarian parties was reduced from 10,000 to 5,000 signatures. The nomination petition signature requirement for unaffiliated candidates was reduced by 50 percent.
- Early voting: An early voting period ran from October 26, 2020 through November 2, 2020.
- Polling places: All early voting centers and Election Day polling locations were open on November 3, 2020. The Maryland State Board of Elections operated a limited number of centralized voting centers in lieu of precinct polling places for in-person voting in the general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and results
1st Appellate Circuit
General election candidates
- Brynja McDivitt Booth (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
5th Appellate Circuit
General election candidates
- Jonathan Biran (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
7th Appellate Circuit
General election candidates
- Mary Ellen Barbera (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
Past elections
2018
- See also: Maryland Supreme Court elections, 2018
Judge Getty was required to stand for retention by voters in 2018 in order to remain on the bench. The election was on November 6, 2018. Retention elections do not have primaries.
Maryland Court of Appeals 3rd Appellate Circuit (Historical), Joseph Getty's seat
Joseph Getty was retained to the 3rd Appellate Circuit of the Appellate Court of Maryland on November 6, 2018 with 84.5% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
84.5
|
282,217 | ||
No |
15.5
|
51,660 | |||
Total Votes |
333,877 | ||||
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2016
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About the Maryland Court of Appeals
- See also: Maryland Court of Appeals
The Maryland Court of Appeals is Maryland's highest court. It is composed of seven judges who are appointed by the governor of the state, confirmed by the Maryland State Senate, and must stand for retention by voters thereafter. Retention elections take place during Maryland's general elections, which are held every two years in even-numbered years.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the court heading into the 2020 election. Judges on the Maryland Court of Appeals are nonpartisan and appointed to their seats.
| ■ Chief Judge Matthew Fader | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (D) in 2022 | |
| ■ Jonathan Biran | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2019 | |
| ■ Brynja McDivitt Booth | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2019 | |
| ■ Steven Gould | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2021 | |
| ■ Peter K. Killough | Appointed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) in 2024 | |
| ■ Angela M. Eaves | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2022 | |
| ■ Shirley Marie Watts | Appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) in 2013 |
Selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Maryland
Judges are appointed to serve 10-year terms by the governor of the state and must be confirmed by the Maryland Senate before taking the bench. At least one year after the vacancy occurred, the appointed judge must stand for retention by voters. In a retention election, voters are asked if a judge should be kept in office for another term; if a majority of the vote is "yes," the judge is retained. If the judge is retained, he or she will serve another 10-year term. Maryland judges must retire upon reaching age 70.[1][2]
Qualifications
Court of Appeals judges must be:
- citizens and qualified voters of Maryland;
- residents of the state for at least five years;
- residents of the appellate judicial circuit to which they are appointed for at least the prior six months;
- at least 30 years of age at the time of appointment;
- admitted to practice law in Maryland; and
- "most distinguished for integrity, wisdom and sound legal knowledge."[3]
Chief judge
The chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals is selected by the governor and serves as the administrative head of the state's judicial system, according to the Maryland Constitution.[1][4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Court of Appeals, "Origin and Functions"
- ↑ Maryland Manual, "Constitution of Maryland, Article IV, Judiciary Department, Sections 3 and 5," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Maryland Manual, "Constitution of Maryland, Article IV, Judiciary Department, Section 2," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Maryland Manual, "Constitution of Maryland, Article IV, Judiciary Department, Section 14," accessed April 21, 2015
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maryland • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maryland
State courts:
Maryland Supreme Court • Appellate Court of Maryland • Maryland District Courts • Maryland Circuit Courts • Maryland Orphans' Court
State resources:
Courts in Maryland • Maryland judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maryland
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