Circuit Court Six
Applicants Vie for Judgeship
Six interested parties have applied for appointment to Judge of the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court, looking to fill a position left by the passing of Judge Michael Stamm last year. The application period closed on February 27th, and submitted applications are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission. Contenders for the judgeship are Sue Ann Armitage, Buffy Giddens, Magistrate Kevin Hill, John Mattingly Jr., Daniel Slade, and Marsha Williams.
Applicants must meet six legal qualifications according to the Constitution of Maryland:
U.S. and Maryland citizenship
Registration to vote in State elections at the time of appointment
Residence in the State for at least five years
Residence, for at least six months next preceding appointment, in the geographic area where the vacancy exists
Age of at least 30 at the time of appointment
Membership in the Maryland Bar
According to the Maryland Courts website, “the Constitution also speaks generally of the second category of qualifications, by providing that those selected for judgeships shall be lawyers “most distinguished for integrity, wisdom and sound legal knowledge.”
Candidates for the role in 12th Judicial Commission District, which covers Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties, would serve as Circuit Court Judge until the first general election occurring at least one year after the vacancy was created. At that point they’ll have to run for bi-partisan election, appearing without a party designation on both Democratic and Republican voter ballots. Though often referred to as a “nonpartisan” election, it is really a bipartisan election because only Democrats and Republicans will vote–the candidates will not appear on the ballot for any other party or those registered Unaffiliated. If a candidate wins the majority of both ballots in the primary, the race is then effectively decided.
A little more about the applicants from information available online, including professional profiles:
Marsha L. Williams is a partner at Williams, McClernan, Stack LLC in Leonardtown, and has practiced law for more than 23 years. Marsha’s experience includes adoption, child support, domestic violence, divorce, custody, and estate planning. A St. Mary’s resident since 2002, Marsha was the Chair of the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce until 2022 and still serves as a Board Member. She is President of the St. Mary’s County NAACP 7025, and was a past member of the St. Mary’s County Youth Advisory Commission and the Board of Directors for Patuxent Habitat for Humanity. Marsha has been recognized by The Daily Record as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women and for her Leadership in Law.
Daniel A. Slade is a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, and is the owner of the Law Office of Daniel A. M. Slade LLC in Leonardtown. Daniel has practiced law for more than two decades, and early in his career clerked for Judge Marvin S. Kaminetz. Daniel ran for State Delegate in 2014, and has volunteered with Hospice of St. Mary’s, St. Mary’s Helping Hands, and as Chairman and Judge for St. Mary’s County Teen Court. Slade has also worked as a pro bono attorney for the St. Mary’s County Fair Association, Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, and a local farmer’s market.
John A. Mattingly Jr. has worked as County Attorney for Calvert County Government since 2017, but prior to that was practicing law in Leonardtown. A St. Mary’s resident, Mattingly ran for State’s Attorney in 2011 and has experience with criminal and civil jury trials, hearings, and administrative proceedings according to his professional biography.
Magistrate Kevin R. Hill has served as the family magistrate in St. Mary’s County since 2020, and worked as Assistant State’s Attorney for four years prior. During that time, Magistrate Hill oversaw the Child Support Division, prosecuted cases in the St. Mary’s County Substance Abuse Court, and helped coordinate Project Graduation. Hill has served on the Peer Review Committee of the Attorney Grievance Commission, and is the President of the St. Mary’s County Bar Association.
Buffy N. Giddens was appointed as County Attorney for St. Mary’s County Government in October 2023 after being employed as Deputy County Attorney since 2022. Giddens worked as Assistant State’s Attorney for 16 years trying felonies and misdemeanors while also helping those affected by domestic violence by participating in the Family Violence Coordinating Council. Giddens has previously been selected by the St. Mary’s Judicial Nominating Committee as a potential judicial candidate.
Sue Ann L. Armitage has over 30 years experience with traffic and criminal law, and a specialization in family law. Sue Ann served as Chairperson of the Judicial Nominating Commission from 2007 to 2015, and has provided pro bono services for wills and powers of attorney for military personnel at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. She has been recognized as Top 100 Women in Maryland by the Daily Record, and is a past member of the Board for St. Mary’s Ryken, and the St. Mary’s County Bar Association. Armitage ran for Circuit Court Judge in 2024 but was unsuccessful in the election. She and her husband, Daniel Armitage, own the Armitage & Armitage law firm in Lexington Park.
The nominating commission for District 12 Trial Courts, appointed late last year, consists of 13 members tasked with interviewing applicants and making recommendations to Governor Wes Moore who is expected to make a decision in April or May. Calvert and St. Mary’s County have six members each, with Chair John L. Erly hailing from Calvert County.
Members from Calvert County include Rebecca Cordero, Rose C. Crunkelton, Melissa Ann Miller, Allison Hyde Smart, Nicholas Ferrante and Tracey McKirgan.
Members from St. Mary’s includes Kelsey R.M. Bush, Rose Victoria Frederick, Kevin J. McDevitt, David Stamm, Margaret Maupin, and Daniel Armitage.
Read more about the Commission members here.
The nominating commission will next meet on April 8, 2025. The MD Courts website says the public can participate by “submitting written and signed comments concerning the qualifications of an application” as long as they are received at least one week prior to the April 8th meeting. The deadline for receipt would be April 1st. Comments must be signed and mailed to:
The Judicial Nominating Commission
℅ The Administrative Office of the Courts
Human Resources
187 Harry S. Truman Parkway - Fourth Floor
Annapolis, MD 21401
Find more information on the MD Courts website https://www.mdcourts.gov/judgeselect/judicialvacancy
