Maryland Judicial Vacancies
The Judicial Nominating Commissions select and nominate to the Governor persons found by the Commission to be legally and most fully professionally qualified to fill a vacancy. The table includes all current vacancies. Once the close date to a vacancy passes, the names of all applicants will be listed. The public is encouraged to participate in the selection process by submitting written and signed comments concerning the qualifications of an applicant to The Judicial Nominating Commission, c/o The Administrative Office of the Courts, Human Resources, 187 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Fourth Floor, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. The comments must be received at least one week prior to the Commission meeting date shown in the table below.
The Nominating Commission meets to interview all candidates. Thereafter a voting session takes place and the names of nominees are reported to the Governor. When approval is granted by the Governor's Office, the names of the individuals nominated by the Commission will be listed in the table below.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this table. Please recognize, however, that this list does not constitute official notification of individuals nominated for, or appointed to, a judicial vacancy. Rather, the official list of candidates for a vacancy is compiled by the Administrative Office of the Courts and sent to the Governor's Office. The Governor's Office officially notifies the appointed individual and releases an official notice to the public. When an appointment to a vacancy is announced by the Governor's Office, the name is highlighted in red.
NOTE: Please only submit applications for vacancies that have a closing date listed.
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Paul J. Hanley
Close Date @4:30pm:
06/03/2026
Applicants Pool **:
Henry Roland Barnes
Andrew Michael Belt
Magistrate Anissa Jai Bonner
Meghan Lynn Corlis
Robert Norman Daniels
Michael Joseph Dunty
Magistrate Sidney Joseph Francois
Eric Rawson Harlan
Magistrate Neeta Kataria
Cylia Evonne Lowe
Magistrate Dilip Barrid Paliath
Magistrate Hossein Reza Parvizian
Francis James Pilarski, Jr.
Magistrate Carrie Leigh Polley
Jennifer Warfield Ritter
Ephraim R. Siff
Michelle Banafsheh Siri
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **:
Reason for Vacancy:
Resignation of the Honorable Zuberi B. Williams
Close Date @4:30pm:
03/25/2026
Applicants Pool **:
Jason Brian Abbott
Rolando Julio Aleman
Matthew Shane Bohrer
David Edgar Booth, Jr.
Jennifer Derouin Burke
Aaronette Carter
Howard Ray Cheris
Patrick Mitri Connelly
Justin Mark Dickman
David Keith Felsen
Brian Reed Frank
Paul Gerard Griffin
Caryn Lynn Hines
Magistrate Lili Khozeimeh
Magistrate Lena Yejoon Kim
Peter Wright Larson
David Mitchell Schoenfeld
Deyka Clarissa Spencer
D. Michael Stroud, Jr.
Seth Bradley Zucker
Comm. Mtg:
05-28-2026
Nominees Pool **:
Jason Brian Abbott
Rolando Julio Aleman
Howard Ray Cheris
Magistrate Lena Yejoon Kim
Peter Wright Larson
Seth Bradley Zucker
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Mark D. Thomas
Close Date @4:30pm:
04/06/2026
Applicants Pool **:
Andrea Marissa Francine Chee-a-tow
Amy Katherine Gibson
Mikhaila Miriam Eugenia McNicolls
Travis William Poole
Thomas Edward Robins
Ashley Lynne Sener
Loren Rebecca Villa
Comm. Mtg:
05-27-2026
Nominees Pool **:
Amy Katherine Gibson
Mikhaila Miriam Eugenia McNicolls
Travis William Poole
Thomas Edward Robins
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Andrea R. S. Watkins
Close Date @4:30pm:
03/23/2026
Applicants Pool **:
Juan Talib-Deen El-Amin
Michele Renee Harris
Ashley Nicole Sowls
Elizabeth Dorothy Theobalds
Albert Hughes Williams
Comm. Mtg:
05-14-2026
Nominees Pool **:
Michele Renee Harris
Elizabeth Dorothy Theobalds
Albert Hughes Williams
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Brian C. Denton
Close Date @4:30pm:
03/24/2026
Applicants Pool **:
Carrie Anne Bland
Kathleen Lynn DeNobile
William Carl Isler, II
Chanel Monique Jackson
Tracey Danette Jean-Charles
Daniel Kyungmin Kim
Scott LaMarr Little
Marlin Quincey Parker, Sr.
Julia Simone Gagne Rupert
Natalie Elizabeth Whittingham-Burrell
**Jessica Lowell Garth
**Rhonda Alexis Wood
Comm. Mtg:
05-11-2026
Nominees Pool **:
Carrie Anne Bland
William Carl Isler, II
Daniel Kyungmin Kim
Julia Simone Gagne Rupert
Natalie Elizabeth Whittingham-Burrell
**Jessica Lowell Garth
**Rhonda Alexis Wood
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Sylvester B. Cox, Jr.
Close Date @4:30pm:
06/16/2026
Applicants Pool **:
**James Burke Miller
**Jocelyn Lang Williams
Comm. Mtg:
07-23-2026
Nominees Pool **:
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Mary C. Reese
Close Date @4:30pm:
06/15/2026
Applicants Pool **:
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **:
NOTE: Applications for this vacancy are not being accepted at this time.
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Patrice E. Lewis
Close Date @4:30pm:
Applicants Pool **:
**Jessica Lowell Garth
**Rhonda Alexis Wood
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **:
NOTE: Applications for these vacancies are not being accepted at this time.
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Robert E. Cahill, Jr.
Retirement of the Honorable Keith R. Truffer
Close Date @4:30pm:
Applicants Pool **:
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **:
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable James A. Bonifant
Close Date @4:30pm:
06/11/2026
Applicants Pool **:
**Damon LaMonte Bell
**Carlotta Ann Woodward
**Seth Bradley Zucker
Comm. Mtg:
07-24-2026
Nominees Pool **:
NOTE: The Appellate Courts Judicial Nominating Commission will meet on June 29 & 30, 2026, to interview all candidates.
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Donald E. Beachley
Close Date @4:30pm:
04/20/2026
Applicants Pool **:
Honorable Krystal Quinn Alves
Honorable Tiffany Hanna Anderson
Honorable Kendra Young Ausby
Dania Layla Ayoubi
Sonia So-Yeon Cho
Honorable Jeffrey Michael Geller
John Robert Grimm
Benjamin Alexander Harris
Virginia Stuelpnagel Hovermill
Patrick Browning Hughes
Jared Michael McCarthy
Christine Anne Monta
Rebecca Anne Niburg
Douglas Edward Nivens, II
Julie Marie Reamy
Michael Patrick Redmond
Stephen Craig Rigg
Karinna Marissa Rossi
Honorable Robert Kinsey Taylor, Jr.
Steven Lee Tiedemann
Honorable Anthony Francis Vittoria
**Honorable Brenda Alverta Sexton
**Magistrate Mark Andrew Tyler
Comm. Mtg:
06-29-2026
Nominees Pool **:
NOTE: Applications for these vacancies are not being accepted at this time.
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Holly D. Reed III
Elevation of the Honorable Victor M. Del Pino to the Circuit Court
Close Date @4:30pm:
Applicants Pool **:
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **:
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable H. Jack Price, Jr.
Close Date @4:30pm:
11/17/2025
Applicants Pool **:
Jessica Lynne Colwell
Joshua Clark Kelty
Sivan Ramani Pillai
Sarah Joelle Willetts
Comm. Mtg:
01-09-2026
Nominees Pool **:
Jessica Lynne Colwell
Joshua Clark Kelty
Sivan Ramani Pillai
NOTE: Applications for this vacancy are not being accepted at this time.
Reason for Vacancy:
Elevation of the Honorable Sidney A. Butcher to the Circuit Court
Close Date @4:30pm:
Applicants Pool **:
**Jennifer Riskie Doud
**Brian Anthony Marsh
**Lawrence Clifton O’Connor
**Windy Rhea Ortega
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **:
NOTE: Applications for this vacancy are not being accepted at this time.
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable H. Richard Duden, III
Close Date @4:30pm:
Applicants Pool **:
**Jennifer Riskie Doud
**Shawn Thomas Gaither
**Colin Matthew Kelly
**Brian Anthony Marsh
**Lawrence Clifton O’Connor
**Windy Rhea Ortega
**Kelly Michele Poma
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **:
Reason for Vacancy:
Retirement of the Honorable Eileen A. Reilly
Close Date @4:30pm:
08/20/2025
Applicants Pool **:
Elizabeth Lynn Adams
Michael Joseph Coburn (withdrew)
Amanda Blair Sallee Denison
Elizabeth Amma Apomsah Dennis
Jennifer Riskie Doud
Brian Anthony Marsh
Lawrence Clifton O'Connor
Windy Rhea Ortega
Amanda Matey Pyles
Emily Brittain Read
Colby Lee Schmidt
Richard Alan Simmons
Peter Joseph Terech
Rochelle Davina Washington
**Shawn Thomas Gaither
**Colin Matthew Kelly
**Kelly Michele Poma
Comm. Mtg:
10-10-2025
Nominees Pool **:
Jennifer Riskie Doud
Brian Anthony Marsh
Lawrence Clifton O’Connor
Windy Rhea Ortega
**Shawn Thomas Gaither
**Colin Matthew Kelly
**Kelly Michele Poma
NOTE: Applications for these vacancies are not being accepted at this time.
Reason for Vacancy:
Elevation of the Honorable Donnaka V. Lewis to Circuit Court
Elevation of the Honorable Stacey M. Cobb Smith to Circuit Court
Close Date @4:30pm:
Applicants Pool **:
**Jessica Lowell Garth
**Rhonda Alexis Wood
Comm. Mtg:
Nominees Pool **: