I have been an attorney in good standing with the Maryland Bar for 45 years. I also served with distinction as a member of this court for seven years, from April, 2016 through November, 2022. I was appointed and re-appointed multiple times to the Maryland Conference of Orphans' Court Judges by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. I was voted Chair of the Conference of Orphans' Court Judges by my peers on the Conference and earned the respect of judges throughout the state.
Any candidate for judicial office should be experienced in all relevant areas of the law and possess the right temperament for the job. It is no secret that over the last three plus years we have been embarrassed by the behavior of the three candidates who took those seats in 2022. It is time for a return to decorum and expertise and an efficient management of the docket so that the citizens of Anne Arundel can know that their families' needs will be met in their time of loss and worry.
The most important values are integrity and respect for the individual, the family and the law.
A willingness to listen, to take the time to hear out each of the parties and to explain clearly the findings of fact and the rules of law to be applied are critical to working through the conflicts that sometimes arise in handling estates and guardianships of the property of minors.
The courtroom is the place where judges of the Orphans' Court interact with interested parties to the case and attorneys representing those parties. It is important that proper courtroom decorum be maintained in this setting and that the established rules of evidence and procedure be clearly stated and followed.
Sometimes, family members appear before the court without counsel, either because they can't afford an attorney or do not understand and their interests must be protected as well.
I am a nurse as well as an attorney and lost my beloved father at thirteen. I have great sensitivity to the pain and disorientation that families may feel after the loss of a loved one and work very hard to be sure that the court hears the concerns of all interested parties to a case and decides matters concerning the estate with judicious care.
I’m running because I want to keep serving my community. My qualifications: BA – Brown University. MBA - Columbia University. I retired after a long career in banking, finance and consulting, and then enrolled in the University of Baltimore School of Law where I took every trust and estates course they offered. I took them because they were personally relevant at that time. I was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2015 and elected to the Orphans’ Court in 2022.
Strive to conduct hearings professionally and provide written decisions to explain the Court’s reasoning. This means starting hearings on time, keeping them on track and explaining the law to pro se litigants. It means more hearings per workday to shorten the time between when petitions are filed and when they’re heard. Written decisions (and dissents) are needed to explain the Court’s thinking not only to those individuals who attended a hearing, but also to those interested persons who didn't.
These disputes pit one group of family members against another. To keep them from devolving into Jerry Springer-like insult fests, it’s necessary to firmly, but politely, control the courtroom. It means keeping comments directed to the Court, outlining the limits of the Court’s jurisdiction, explaining the rules of evidence, and summarizing the law that mandates what the Court must do and limits what it can do. Not letting expectations run amok is the best way to manage family conflict.
I have no interest in higher office and so don't need to curry favor from anyone who might help me get there. I don’t know enough people in the county (I’m a transplant) for conflict of interest to be a concern. When it comes to litigants, I see neither Black nor White, male nor female, straight nor gay, well-spoken nor those who aren’t. I do see pro se litigants and those represented by counsel, and I do whatever I lawfully can to see that the unrepresented aren’t steamrolled by attorneys.
Notwithstanding what you may have read or heard about the tumult in the Court this past term, I state emphatically that the Court’s functioning was never in jeopardy, and that the Court today is a much-improved entity than it was when I started as a result.
Campaign Phone
240-564-3675
Tony McConkey believes he can do a better job “Keeping Families Together” by using technology to reform and speed up the probate process begun through state legislation passed in 2021. Tony wants to make the system of probate more efficient and consumer friendly to the families that are often torn apart during the unnecessarily long and confusing process of dividing property after the death of a loved one. He is best qualified to bring reform because of his experience in the General Assembly.
Tony will build trust by making the Orphans’ Court more transparent, efficient and responsive to the families that use the court. Families should have the ability to be heard by the court and to fully share their views. The court should then be transparent and fully explain its decision, so the public can trust in the Orphans’ Court even if they disagree with a particular ruling.
The conflicts are worse when the parties feel they are not being heard or the system is unfair. The most important value is allowing every interested party to have their say, and to provide a thorough opinion on why a particular decision was made.
Tony is a proven public servant. Anne Arundel County has trusted him for 16 years through 4 elections to represent them in public decision making. Tony has shown independence and willingness to stand up and do what is right even if that decision is unpopular.
McConkey was involved, up close, with the court system, the Orphans’ Court, and issues of the civil and criminal courts, law enforcement, victim rights and elder abuse.
Tony McConkey is a life-long Marylander, and has lived in Severna Park since 2001. He is 62 years old, married and the father of three children. He has worked for 42 years in the real estate business as broker, owner, investor and property manager. The disposition of real estate after death is an important part of the work of the court and Tony is very well qualified.
Campaign Phone
(443)223-9299
I am running for Judge of the Orphans Court because I believe in representative government and public service. The Orphans' Court relies on elected judges. Anne Arundel County families entangled in probate need those judges to conduct the business of the court with compassion, respect, professionalism, and the dignity the position deserves. I look forward to being a judge for the people.
The best way to build public trust is to act in ways that earn it. This starts by treating our fellow judges, the families who appear before us, and the court itself with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. With that simple standard for professional behavior set, we can move on to standards of transparency, efficiency, and service that will foster public faith in the Orphans’ Court.
Families appearing before the Orphans’ Court do so under confusing and emotional circumstances. They deserve courtesy, fairness, and respect, and these are the core values I will bring to the bench. By acting accordingly, the judges will create a calm courtroom and model the thoughtful decision making needed to achieve conflict resolution.
Steps to ensure fairness may include:
1. Focus on the law. What does it say and where does it guide us?
2. Recusal from any case involving conflicts of interest.
3. Pursuit of ongoing education to stay informed of legal standards and to avoid unconscious bias.
4. Establish respectful, professional relationships with fellow judges so that we can communicate openly and trust each other’s opinions.
5. Listen equitably to each person appearing before the court.
I am a 4th generation AACo native who grew up in a family dedicated to public service. I am a small business owner, an aunt, a godmother, a traveler, a gardener, and an adult who has lost loved ones. I have watched the administration of estates and seen how their resolution, or lack thereof, impacts families. The Orphans’ Court matters. The law matters. Elections matter. Most of all, the people of AACo matter. I ask for your vote so that I may represent them on the Orphans' Court.
Campaign Phone
410-230-1800
I'm running to maintain integrity on the bench and to bring real world experience to the Orphans’ Court. Having built a successful law practice, with overlap in estate matters, it not only brought me into contact with many different members of our community, but it also professionally prepared me to serve as a judge.
The standards I will use to build public trust are cooperation and accountability. That means my rulings will be fair and impartial. I’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with the Register of Wills to ensure the public is served in an open, efficient and caring manner. To increase on-going dialogue and community understanding of the court, I'll participate in the work of Maryland Courts' Equal Justice Committee.
I come from a family of six kids, and we O'Connells, were raised to treat everyone with respect and compassion, to find the goodness in others. I'll bring those values to the bench along with civility, empathy, and patience.
A judge must be fair and impartial and do justice in every case. I will be open-minded and not prejudge outcomes based on the parties or issues involved. There is no place for favoritism or conflicts of interest in the judiciary. The court must guard against even the appearance of perceived bias.
In the O'Connell campaign, we're working hard every day to earn your vote. Stand with us. Stand for justice. Vote O'Connell on June 23rd.
I served as a Judge of the Orphans' Court from 2014 to 2018, and will bring to the Bench that past experience and knowledge of Estates and Trust Law, with re-election for this term. As I did then, I will bring fairness and strong ethics from my strong family background, service to the community as a 15-year Board member of a business student group; 8 years of service to my county political party; 2 years as a member of the Board of Elections; & more than 35 years of small-business experience.
Public trust in any elected office is important, and it is very important when families are facing the death of a loved one, and navigating the estate process. Public trust includes strong ethics, a broad view of fairness, and a sense of understanding and compassion for those who come before the Court. I live these values in my everyday life, and will put them into practice as a Judge of the Orphans' Court.
Most estate cases are easily navigated with help from the Office of the Register of Wills, however, some estates need assistance from the Court to fairly and legally resolve conflicts among family members, those named in a Will, and others who may have a claim in an estate. My core values include strong ethics, fairness, impartiality, faith, and compassion, while I also understand the legal nature of Estates and Trust law, and that it must be applied fairly and within the bounds of the law.
All individuals are equal under the law, and this obviously also applies to Estates and Trusts when Judges are faced with making fair and unbiased decisions for families based on the facts as provided, and within the law. Judges are an impartial party in court proceedings, and I adhere to that policy as a part of being a Judge. During my previous term as a Judge, there were no conflicts of interest with estates that I adjudicated, and if a conflict arises, I would seek judicial advice.
I've held this office previously, and therefore have a unique qualification and level of experience as a past Judge of the Orphans' Court. I am a life-long resident of Anne Arundel County with a Bachelor of Science Degree and have served honorably on a number of Boards and other groups over the past several years. These professional experiences, along with organizational skills and my small-business background make me a highly-qualified candidate for Judge, and I ask for your vote.
Campaign Phone
(443)510-8953
I am running for Judge of the Orphans’ Court because families deserve a court that listens, applies the law fairly, and treats every person with dignity. With twenty years of legal experience including work as an E Discovery Attorney in Antitrust law and service as an Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Small Business Administration during the COVID 19 pandemic-I bring the skills and compassion this work requires. In 2025 I was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore as an Anne Arundel Co. Orphans' Court Judge.
To build public trust in the Orphans’ Court, I focus on three core standards: transparency, fairness, and accessibility. Families deserve clear explanations of the process, consistent and impartial application of the law, and a courtroom where every person is treated with dignity. I maintain high ethical and professional standards, ensure timely and well-reasoned decisions, and create an environment where people feel heard and respected. Trust grows when the court is steady and clear.
When resolving family conflicts, I rely on core values that keep the process fair and grounded. I lead with impartiality, applying the law consistently and without assumptions. I treat every person with respect and dignity, ensuring they feel heard. I bring compassion, recognizing the emotional weight families carry, and I prioritize clarity, explaining the process and decisions in plain language. Above all, I act with integrity, making thoughtful, well-reasoned decisions that honor the law.
To ensure fairness and impartiality, I apply the law consistently, treat every person with respect, and maintain strict boundaries with influential parties. I avoid any appearance of favoritism and base every decision solely on the facts and the law. When a conflict of interest arises—or even appears to arise—I have no hesitation in recusing (removing) myself. Upholding integrity, transparency, and equal treatment is essential to maintaining public trust in the Orphans’ Court.
I want voters to know that my commitment to this work is deeply personal. I grew up in Anne Arundel County and continue to live here, and this community has shaped my values, my sense of service, and my belief in fairness. I was inspired at a young age by the legacy of Thurgood Marshall, and that early spark led me to a career rooted in justice, integrity, and public service.
I bring 20 years of legal experience as an Attorney, but I also bring something just as essential: the ability to listen.
