Governor O’Malley announced Thursday the appointment of two Circuit Court judges and eight District Court judges who will serve in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Calvert County, Cecil County, and Prince George’s County.

“I am proud to appoint this talented and diverse group of judges to serve on our State’s trial courts,” said Governor O’Malley.  “As most of our neighbors’ only experience with the justice system is with our District and Circuit Courts, it is vital that our judges treat people evenhandedly and with respect.  Each appointee brings a diversity of experience but have in common integrity, strong legal backgrounds, and the ability to treat people fairly.”

Governor O’Malley has conducted dozens of interviews with candidates recommended to him by the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commissions.  All of the judges selected to serve on Maryland’s Circuit and District Courts were recommended to him by the Commissions.

In Anne Arundel County, Governor O’Malley has appointed the following three judges to serve on the District Court: 

  • Henry Richard Duden, III, is a senior litigator at the Annapolis law firm of Hyatt and Weber, P.A.  He has broad experience in civil litigation, appellate practice, and administrative law.   Mr. Duden is a member of the State Ethics Commission and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.  He is the current historian of the Anne Arundel County Bar Association.  Mr. Duden was born and raised in Annapolis, and graduated from Annapolis High School and the University of Maryland School of Law.
  • Eileen Reilly has spent almost 20 years as a prosecutor in the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office.  She is the lead prosecutor for the county’s Circuit Court Adult Drug Court and the trial team leader for the Felony Drug Unit.  Ms. Reilly teaches criminal law classes at the Annapolis City Police Department and the Anne Arundel County Police Department.   She is the recipient of the Anne Arundel County Spirit of Excellence Award for 15 years of outstanding service.  
  • Shaèm Spencer has been the City Attorney for Annapolis since 2003.  In that capacity, he is the general counsel for the 15 departments and over 500 employees of the City of Annapolis.   Mr. Spencer is a past president of the Maryland Municipal Attorney’s Association.   Earlier in his career, Mr. Spencer spent four years as a prosecutor in the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office.   Mr. Spencer graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law.

 

In Baltimore City, Governor O’Malley has appointed Marcus Z. Shar to fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the elevation of the Honorable Albert J. Matricciani, Jr. to the Court of Special Appeals.  Mr. Shar is a partner with the Baltimore firm of Shar, Rosen & Warshaw, LLC.  He represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases throughout the country, and he is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.  Mr. Shar is a frequent lecturer and author regarding trial advocacy and medical malpractice issues.  He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Law and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

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