Governor Martin O’Malley has appointed David Wylie Densford to the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County. Densford takes the seat left vacant with the retirement of Judge C. Clarke Raley
According to a press release from the governor’s office, “Densford has been a trial litigator in St. Mary’s County for 27 years. He has worked as a solo practitioner, as part of a small firm, and as an Assistant Public Defender. He has extensive experience in criminal, landlord/tenant, and family law issues. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Densford was a television and print journalist. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Board of Directors of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association. “
Densford said “It’s an honor to be appointed by the governor, particularly considering the applicants. I look forward to serving as a judge.”
The appointment is temporary until next election. Densford said that he would be a candidate in the next primary in April.
Governor Martin O’Malley also announced today the appointment of Robert N. (“Bob”) McDonald, the Chief Counsel of Opinions and Advice for the Office of the Attorney General, to the Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest court. Governor O’Malley also announced the elevation of the Honorable Stuart R. Berger to the Court of Special Appeals and the appointment of eight Circuit Court judges who will serve in Baltimore County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and St. Mary’s County. These appointees have a diverse array of legal experiences, and all of the appointees bring exceptional qualifications to their new jobs. They also represent the wide ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity of Maryland.
Over the last several months, Governor O’Malley conducted numerous interviews with candidates recommended to him by the appellate courts nominating commission and the trial court judicial nominating commissions. All of the judges selected to serve in Maryland’s judiciary were recommended to him by the commissions.
For the Court of Appeals, Governor O’Malley appointed Robert N. McDonald to represent the Second Appellate Circuit (Baltimore and Harford Counties). McDonald will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Joseph F. Murphy, Jr. Prior to this appointment, McDonald served for approximately 15 years as the chief counsel of opinions and advice for the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. In this position, he writes or edits all formal opinions of the Attorney General’s Office – opinions that analyze many of the most difficult legal questions that confront the State of Maryland. He also provides less formal legal advice to all segments of state government on a wide array of important issues.
“Bob McDonald possesses one of the best legal minds in the entire state and has an impressive record of public service,” said Governor O’Malley. “He is regarded by his peers as an expert in Maryland law as well as fair, impartial, and intellectually honest. He has already
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