Maryland
Maryland’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Maryland. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice, who is designated by the governor. (Source: Maryland Manual)
Judicial Selection
The governor nominates justices to the Supreme Court of Maryland. The governor receives a list of candidates from the judicial nominating commission but is not required to select a candidate from the list. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. After at least one year on the court, the justice may stand for a 10-year term in an unopposed yes/no retention vote at the time of Maryland’s next general election. Justices may stand for additional terms in the same retention process. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor appoints a candidate from a list provided by the judicial nominating commission, but the governor is not required to select a candidate from the list. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 70.
State Constitution
Maryland has had four constitutions adopted between 1776 and 1867. As of January 1, 2024, it had 239 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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Why We Should Care About Diversity on the Bench
New data shows women and people of color are underrepresented on state high courts.
Supreme Court and Election Law Still Feel the Fallout 25 Years After Bush v. Gore
The 5–4 decision started a long slide in public approval for the court, accentuated by a widening partisan gap.
Bush v. Gore Introduced a Fringe Theory that Threatened Elections Decades Later
The “independent state legislature theory,” shut down in 2023 by the U.S. Supreme Court, would have robbed state courts of the power to review state laws related to federal elections.
Judging Democracy: A Former Justice Reflects on Bush v. Gore 25 Years Later
The legal battles over the 2000 presidential election were the beginning of a cautionary tale reminding us that democracy does not sustain itself.
State High Courts Split on Laws Letting Survivors of Sexual Abuse Sue After Expiration of Statutes of Limitations
State supreme courts have emphasized different constitutional provisions to decide whether bills reviving time-barred civil causes of action for child sexual abuse claims are constitutional.
Everyone Benefits When Judges Come from a Variety of Backgrounds
Amid attacks on “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the need for representative state supreme courts is as urgent as ever.
The Maryland Constitution: One of the Nation’s Oldest, Was a Model for Other States
The state’s current constitution was adopted during the Reconstruction Era as a reactionary effort to re-establish pre-Civil War government.
Hawaii’s Midwives Challenge Law Criminalizing Traditional Birthing Practices
Many Native Hawaiians rely on lay midwives to provide culturally sensitive reproductive health care.