Maryland Supreme Court elections, 2026
 |
U.S. House • Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • How to run for office |
 |
| 2026 State Judicial Elections | |
|---|---|
2027 »
« 2025
| |
 | |
| Overview | |
| Supreme Courts Overview | |
| Appellate Courts Overview | |
| View judicial elections by state: | |
The term of one Maryland Supreme Court justice will expire on December 31, 2026. The one seat is up for retention election on November 3, 2026. The filing deadline is August 3, 2026.
Judges with expiring terms
- This is a list of the justices who must stand for retention election in 2026 in order to remain on the bench. Justices may choose not to stand for election. The list is subject to change if justices retire or are appointed.
Candidates and results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
Fourth circuit
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Maryland
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
About the Maryland Supreme Court
- See also: Maryland Supreme Court
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 is the political composition of the court heading into the 2026 election.
| ■ Brynja McDivitt Booth | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2019, and retained in 2020 | |
| ■ Angela M. Eaves | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2022 | |
| ■ Matthew Fader | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2017, and retained in 2018 | |
| ■ Jonathan Biran | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2019, and retained in 2020 | |
| ■ Shirley Marie Watts | Appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) in 2013, and retained in 2014 | |
| ■ Steven Gould | Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2021, and retained in 2022 | |
| ■ Peter K. Killough | Appointed by Gov. Wes Moore (R) in 2024 |
Selection
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.
See also
External links
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
