Maryland Supreme Court elections
There are seven justices on the Maryland Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Maryland judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Maryland
The seven judges of the Maryland Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. The Maryland Judicial Nominating Commission is responsible for screening candidates and submitting a shortlist to the governor. This commission consists of 17 members appointed by the governor and the Maryland State Bar Association. The governor must appoint a judge from the commission's shortlist and the appointee must then be confirmed by the Maryland State Senate.[1][2]
After serving for one year, judges must stand for retention in the next general election if they wish to remain on the court. If retained, a judge wins a full ten-year term.[1]
The court's name changed from the Maryland Court of Appeals to the Maryland Supreme Court, following a ballot initiative that voters approved in November 2022.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a U.S. and state citizen;
- a registered state voter;
- a state resident for at least five years;
- a resident of the geographic area where the vacancy exists for at least six months;
- a state bar member;
- at least 30 years old; and
- under the age of 70 (retirement at 70 is mandatory).[1]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the court is designated by the governor to serve indefinite terms.[1]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a judge's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends qualified candidates to the governor and the governor selects a successor from that list. The new appointee serves for at least one year and then stands for retention at the next general election.[1]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
See also: Maryland Supreme Court elections, 2030
Maryland Supreme Court 1st Circuit
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Maryland Supreme Court 5th Circuit
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Maryland Supreme Court 4th Circuit
See also: Maryland Supreme Court elections, 2026
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Maryland Supreme Court elections, 2024
Maryland Supreme Court 2nd Circuit
Maryland Supreme Court 2nd Circuit
Angela M. Eaves was retained to the 2nd Circuit of the Maryland Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 80.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 80.2 | 371,817 |
| No | 19.8 | 91,986 | |
| Total Votes | 463,803 |
 | The results have been certified. Source |
Maryland Supreme Court 3rd Circuit
Maryland Supreme Court 3rd Circuit
Matthew Fader was retained to the 3rd Circuit of the Maryland Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 81.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 81.3 | 365,221 |
| No | 18.7 | 84,026 | |
| Total Votes | 449,247 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Maryland Supreme Court 6th Circuit
Maryland Supreme Court 6th Circuit
Shirley Marie Watts was retained to the 6th Circuit of the Maryland Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 89.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 89.3 | 162,587 |
| No | 10.7 | 19,559 | |
| Total Votes | 182,146 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Maryland Court of Appeals 7th Appellate Circuit (Historical)
See also: Maryland Supreme Court elections, 2022
Maryland Court of Appeals 7th Appellate Circuit (Historical)
Steven Gould was retained to the 7th Appellate Circuit of the Appellate Court of Maryland on November 8, 2022 with 87.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 87.3 | 232,127 |
| No | 12.7 | 33,729 | |
| Total Votes | 265,856 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Maryland Court of Appeals elections, 2020
Maryland Court of Appeals 1st Appellate Circuit (Historical)
Maryland Court of Appeals 1st Appellate Circuit (Historical)
Brynja McDivitt Booth was retained to the 1st Appellate Circuit of the Appellate Court of Maryland on November 3, 2020 with 83.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 83.0 | 156,548 |
| No | 17.0 | 32,037 | |
| Total Votes | 188,585 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Maryland Court of Appeals 5th Appellate Circuit (Historical)
Maryland Court of Appeals 5th Appellate Circuit (Historical)
Jonathan Biran was retained to the 5th Appellate Circuit of the Appellate Court of Maryland on November 3, 2020 with 79.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 79.3 | 321,333 |
| No | 20.7 | 84,037 | |
| Total Votes | 405,370 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Maryland Court of Appeals 7th Appellate Circuit (Historical)
Maryland Court of Appeals 7th Appellate Circuit (Historical)
Mary Ellen Barbera was retained to the 7th Appellate Circuit of the Appellate Court of Maryland on November 3, 2020 with 90.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 90.3 | 401,403 |
| No | 9.7 | 43,344 | |
| Total Votes | 444,747 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Maryland Court of Appeals 3rd Appellate Circuit (Historical)
See also: Maryland Supreme Court elections, 2018
Maryland Court of Appeals 3rd Appellate Circuit (Historical)
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 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Maryland," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ Maryland Manual Online, APPELLATE COURTS JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION," February 28, 2020
- ↑ CBS Baltimore, "The Court of Appeals of Maryland is now the Supreme Court of Maryland," December 14, 2022
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
