Governor O’Malley Appoints Ten Judges

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley announced on Dec. 30 the appointments of ten judges to the Maryland Circuit and District Courts, including four judges in Montgomery County.

The newly appointed judges were recommended to O’Malley by local trial court judicial nominating commissions.

“I am honored to appoint such an accomplished and diverse group of candidates to the Maryland Circuit and District Courts,” said Governor O’Malley. “These appointees will bring to the bench a true commitment to public service and a wide range of legal expertise.”

O’Malley made two appointments to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.

–Glenn Louis Klavans has maintained a solo practice in Glen Burnie for the last fifteen years, specializing in trial work in the Circuit and District Courts. Previously, Mr. Klavans practiced at two other private firms, where he represented a range of clients in civil and criminal litigation matters. Prior to his work in private practice, Mr. Klavans served for ten years as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, prosecuting sexual offenses, domestic violence, and narcotics crimes. Mr. Klavans earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Drew University.

–Delegate Cathleen Marie Vitale has practiced in Anne Arundel County for the entirety of her twenty-five year career. Ms. Vitale began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Raymond G. Thieme, Jr. and then practiced with two Anne Arundel County law firms, representing clients in civil and criminal matters in District and Circuit Courts. She currently maintains a solo practice in Glen Burnie, specializing in civil trial practice, family law matters, and mediation. Since 2010, Ms. Vitale has served as the elected representative of Anne Arundel County, District 33 in the Maryland House of Delegates. Previously, Ms. Vitale served for eleven years as Councilwoman on the Anne Arundel County Council. Ms. Vitale earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a bachelor of arts from the University of Maryland, College Park.

For the Circuit Court for Howard County, Governor O’Malley has appointed Master Mary Morton Kramer. Since 2004, Master Kramer has served as a Master in Chancery for the Circuit Court for Howard County, hearing family law, child in need of assistance (CINA), and juvenile delinquency cases. Previously, she maintained a general trial practice for nearly twenty years at private firms in Howard and Baltimore Counties. In 2012, Master Kramer was appointed to the Judicial Ethics Committee by Maryland Chief Judge Robert M. Bell. She earned her law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and her undergraduate degree from West Virginia University.

Governor O’Malley made two appointments to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.

–Judge Karla Natasha Smith has served on the District Court for Montgomery County since 2012. Prior to her appointment to the District Court bench, Judge Smith served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for sixteen years, including for five years as Chief of the Family Violence Division in the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. Judge Smith has a long history of service to the most vulnerable citizens of Maryland, having served previously on the Governor’s Family Violence Council and as Co-Chair of the Montgomery County Taskforce on Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse, and currently as the Chair of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. Judge Smith earned her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

–John Michael Maloney is the Deputy State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, where he has served for the past seven years. Previously, Mr. Maloney served for eighteen years as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, including for four years as Chief of the Homicide Unit. Mr. Maloney is a former member of the Montgomery County Juvenile Justice Commission and is currently the Chair of the State Prosecutor Selections and Disability Commission. Mr. Maloney earned his law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Colgate University.

For the District Court for Anne Arundel County, Governor O’Malley has appointed Laura Marie Robinson. Since 2001, Ms. Robinson has practiced at the Glen Burnie firm Lessans, Praley & McCormick, P.A., representing clients in civil and criminal matters in Maryland District and Circuit Courts, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Previously, Ms. Robinson served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Maryland’s Office of the Public Defender. Ms. Robinson earned her law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

For the District Court for Baltimore County, Governor O’Malley has appointed Kevin Yvonne Thomas Wiggins. Mr. Wiggins has served for fourteen years as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore City. During his tenure, he has served in the Juvenile, Misdemeanor, General Trial, Economic Crimes, and Homicide Divisions of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. He is currently the Division Chief of Criminal Prosecution, Zone 3. Mr. Wiggins earned his law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Towson University.

Governor O’Malley made two appointments to the District Court for Montgomery County.

–Hon. Zuberi Bakari Williams currently serves as an Administrative Law Judge, presiding over administrative cases at over 30 state agencies. Previously, he worked as a trial attorney in Washington, D.C.’s Office of the Attorney General and an associate at two prominent law firms. Earlier in his legal career, Judge Williams served as a law clerk to Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and Maryland Chief Judge Robert M. Bell. He received law and graduate degrees from American University and an undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University.

–Holly David Reed, III has been a solo practitioner in Silver Spring since 1999, focusing on civil litigation, criminal defense, family law, and domestic violence matters. During that time, he served as a panel attorney for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Washington D.C.’s Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Previously, Mr. Reed owned a telecommunications company and worked for a large telecommunications company. He began his career serving as a law clerk for Judge Iraline Barnes in Washington D.C.’s Superior Court. Mr. Reed received a law degree from Howard University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

For the District Court for Prince George’s County, Governor O’Malley has appointed Katina Self Steuart. For the past eight years, Ms. Steuart has been an Assistant State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, prosecuting major felony offenses and violent crimes. Earlier in her career, Ms. Steuart prosecuted felony and misdemeanor domestic violence offenses and juvenile offenses for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and practiced as a civil litigation associate at a private firm in Prince George’s County. Ms. Steuart received her law degree from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Towson University.

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