| The qualifications of a
judge fall into two quite distinct categories: (1) legal and
(2) professional and personal. The
Constitution of Maryland specifies those in the first category
(Art. I, § 12; Art. IV, § 2). The legal qualifications
for appointed judges are:
- U.S. and Maryland
citizenship.
- Registration to vote
in State elections at the time of appointment.
- Residence in the State
for at least five years.
- Residence, for at
least six months next preceding appointment, in the geographic
area where the vacancy exists.
- Age of at least 30
at the time of appointment.
- Membership in the
Maryland Bar.
The Constitution also speaks
generally of the second category of qualifications, by providing
that those selected for judgeships shall be lawyers "most distinguished
for integrity, wisdom and sound legal knowledge." |
