Robert Mack Bell (b. July 6, 1943) made history as the first African American Chief Judge of Maryland’s highest court, serving from 1996 until his retirement in 2013. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and the people of Maryland.
Bell’s path to the bench began with reading Perry Mason novels in his youth. At age 16, he joined a student sit-in at a segregated Baltimore cafeteria, ultimately being convicted of trespassing for refusing to leave. The case, Bell v. Maryland, which reached the Maryland Court of Appeals and, after legislative changes to Maryland law, the U.S. Supreme Court, helped dismantle racial segregation. Attorneys representing the petitioners included Thurgood Marshall and Juanita Jackson Mitchell. Bell said Marshall remained one of his heroes over the years: “He’s the guy who did what I always wanted to do: make an impact on the law.”
Bell went on from Dunbar High School to earn his B.A. in history from Morgan State College in 1966 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1969. His rise through Maryland’s Judiciary was marked by principle and reform.
Over nearly four decades, Bell served at every level of Maryland’s Judiciary:
- District Court, Baltimore City – Associate Judge (1975–1980)
- Circuit Court, Baltimore City – Associate Judge (1980–1984)
- Court of Special Appeals – Judge (1984–1991)
- Court of Appeals – Judge (1991–1996)
- Chief Judge, Court of Appeals (1996–2013)
As Chief Judge, Bell championed access to justice and modernized the courts. He launched problem-solving courts for drug treatment, mental health, and truancy; expanded transparency with online broadcasts of appellate hearings; and created the Judiciary’s Office of Communications to help citizens navigate the system. He also promoted alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a way to resolve conflicts outside the courtroom. Beyond Maryland, he led nationally as president of the Conference of Chief Justices and chair of the National Center for State Courts.
Bell often reminded colleagues that the Judiciary’s authority rests on public trust. “How one perceives a system is critically important for the health and effectiveness of that system,” he said, underscoring his belief that outreach and education are as essential as rulings.
His support for law libraries reflected that same philosophy of improving public trust. As Chair of the Library Committee, the governing board of the State Law Library, Bell oversaw significant administrative modernization. The Court Library Study Committee, created in 2000, assessed challenges facing county law libraries and built support for to the Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors. The Conference continues to provide guidance to the Judiciary on law library and legal information matters. 2026 marks 20 years since the Library’s Special Collections Room was opened. The Special Collections Room was dedicated to Chief Judge Bell in 2019.
Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Court of Appeals cuts the ribbon to the Special Collection Room beside Steve P. Anderson, Library Director (2006)
From civil rights activist to judicial trailblazer, former Chief Judge Robert M. Bell’s legacy is one of courage, reform, and an unwavering dedication to serving others. His influence continues to inspire the State Law Library’s mission to open the doors of justice through information, ensuring that the courts remain accessible to all.
Sources:
Wil S. Hylton, Burden of Proof, Baltimore , 1997, at 46.
William D. Missouri, Waymaker: An Interview with Chief Judge Robert M. Bell, 50 The Judge’s Journal, Winter 2011, at 4.
William Reynolds, Foreword: The Legal Hist d: The Legal History of the Gr y of the Great Sit-In Case of Bell v eat Sit-In Case of Bell v. Maryland, 61 Maryland Law Review 761–794 (2002).