Prince Frederick, MD – With the pending retirement next month of District Court of Maryland Judge Robert B. Riddle, eight attorneys, including the current judge’s wife, have submitted their names for consideration. The final decision for who receives appointment to the bench in District Four rests with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.
Riddle, who was appointed judge by then-Governor Robert Ehrlich in 2005 and became the district’s administrative judge in 2008. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Riddle served as Calvert County State’s Attorney. He was elected to that post in 1994 and ran unopposed in two subsequent elections.
Riddle confirmed that the only reason he is retiring is because he is approaching 70, the mandatory retirement age for judges. He has already turned over the reins of administrator to Judge K. Christy Holt Chesser.
“It really has been an absolute honor,” said Riddle of his tenure as judge. “Every day I get up and go to work I have a chance to serve the public. You can’t ask for a better job than that—except maybe pitching for the Red Sox.”
While Riddle will be retiring from his fulltime post he will still be sitting as a recall judge. Riddle explained he already has a list of assignments for after his retirement becomes official.
Among the candidates who have submitted applications for consideration is local defense attorney Robyn Steele Ennis Riddle, Judge Riddle’s wife. Others who have applied for the pending vacancy include Calvert County Family Magistrate Tracey Ann McKirgan. Two current Calvert County Circuit Court judges—Marjorie Clagett and E. Gregory Wells—previously served as the county’s family magistrate.
Also applying are Prince Frederick attorney Kenneth David Wilcox, who currently serves on the North Beach Town Council; public defenders Renee Esther Battle-Brooks and Leslie Florestano Peek, trial attorneys Joseph Edward Carey and Mark Wayne Carmean, and Upper Marlboro-based attorney Justin Joel Sasser.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
