I have over 30 years of experience in Estates & Trusts, litigation and other related areas of law. Prior to my appointment, my area of specialty was in Estates & Trusts for over 10 years.
My priorities are to continue to serve the court with excellence, equality and empathy.
The greatest challenge is always resolving legal disputes that often involve matters that aren't related to tangible estate assets. Additionally, a large percentage of the matters before our court involve interested parties who aren't represented by an attorney. I approach these challenges with patience, empathy, a commitment to listening and explaining my rulings.
Campaign Phone
410-321-8400
As an attorney in Baltimore County for nearly 40 years, I have spent most of that time in the practice of estate planning, probate administration and estate litigation. Having spent my career in the representation of clients who have recently lost family or loved ones, I understand the importance of explaining the probate process clearly and with empathy, while at the same time making sure that the parties have an understanding, and realistic expectations, of how the process works.
Baltimore County has a well-deserved reputation of having both an Orphans' Court bench which is smart, capable and fair; and an experienced and accommodating Register of Wills and staff. My priorities are to work collaboratively with my judicial colleagues and with the Register's office to continue that legacy, while exploring possibilities of making the process even more accessible and efficient for the citizens of Baltimore County.
Whereas other courts in Maryland have gone to electronic filing and case management in recent years, a challenge facing the Orphans' Court has been the slow pace of catching up with technology. Most of the stakeholders in the field of probate administration in Maryland are aware of this, and have been working towards addressing the issue. I hope to add my voice to this endeavor, along with my colleagues not only in Baltimore County, but throughout the State of Maryland.
I have been an Orphans’ Court Judge since April 2014. I have been a member of the Conference of Orphans’ Court Judges and the chair of the legislative subcommittee since 2016. I have also served as the Vice-Chair of the conference for five of those years. I am formerly a board member of MAJOC, served on the executive council of the ADR Section of the MSBA, am currently a member of the NCPJ, the Baltimore County Bar Association, and serve on the Task Force to Study Fiduciary Adjudication.
My priorities are to continue to make the Baltimore County Orphans’ Court and the courts statewide the best they can be to serve the citizens of Baltimore County and Maryland. I have served as an instructor at the Judicial College which provides continuing education for judges and consistently work on legislative priorities for our courts to ensure we have the best judges and courts. I have also worked to assist other jurisdictions to have mediation programs similar to that in Baltimore County.
The greatest challenge is to continue to support the need for making any beneficial changes to the courts while preserving the independence and the need for a specialized court with specialized judges to handle probate law in Maryland.
