LEONARDTOWN, Md. – On Thursday, August 14th, Kevin R. Hill was sworn in as a St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge. Investiture guests were invited to a reception immediately following the ceremony at St. Clair West in Clements, Md.
Immediately prior to his appointment, Judge Hill served as the Family Law Magistrate in the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court since 2020. He assumes the Circuit Court seat of the Honorable Judge Michael J. Stamm who passed away unexpectedly in October 2024.
Prior to attending law school, Judge Hill managed his family’s restaurant business for over 15 years, first at the Hill’s Halfway House in Mechanicsville, Maryland and later at the St. Mary’s Landing Restaurant in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. He stated in his investiture remarks that he attributes his work ethic and understanding of the needs of St. Mary’s County citizens “from the years serving the public and working with his parents to build a successful family-owned local business.”
Judge Hill has spent almost his entire legal career in public service. He was recognized as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2017 while serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the State’s Attorney Office for St. Mary’s County. Uniquely, Judge Hill served as an Assistant Public Defender for many years before becoming a prosecutor. He has litigated criminal misdemeanor, civil cases, and serious felony cases in St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert Counties.
Presently, Judge Hill is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Global Campus where he teaches courses in Business Law, Litigation, and professional development. He serves on two local non-profit Boards of Directors, volunteers with the W.A.R.M. program, and directs a mentorship initiative for recent law school graduates.
Judge Hill earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland – with majors in Political Science, Public Policy, and Economics with a business concentration, becoming St. Mary’s College’s first graduate with a triple major. He earned his law degree with honors from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, where he was recognized as a Washington Area Clinical Law Student of the Year, awarded the school’s Dean’s Cup, and was an Associate Editor on the school’s Law Review.
Over the next few months Judge Hill will have to complete a series of orientation and instruction through the Maryland Judiciary which includes multi-day courses in family law, criminal law, New Judge Orientation, and the Office of Administrative Courts judicial conference on Child Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency.
Judge Hill will have to stand for an election in the 2026 election cycle.
Congratulations Kevin! Your mom/dad are so very proud of you and all your accomplishments; as well as I am…..All that studying has paid off! Take care, Good Luck..
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