Merit Selection Process

Independent vetting by the Prince George’s County Judicial Nominating Commission, including:
- Thorough review of the application and writing samples,
- Input from references and other members of the legal and lay community, including judges before whom the applicant has practiced,
- Consideration of the recommendations of all specialty bar associations
- Additional input from the County and State Bar Associations,
- Another round of interviews of applicants
- Discussion about each applicant before selecting the top nominees to send to the Governor
2 writing samples
An application with 40+ questions exploring personal and professional history and experience
Approximately 13 interviews with various specialty bar associations who independently vet each applicant
Upon receipt of the Judicial Nominating Commission’s list of qualified applicants, the Governor does additional vetting and interviewing of the candidates.
The Governor appoints the top candidate from the Judicial Nominating Commission’s list.
Under the Maryland Constitution, the appointed judge must run in the next election to be retained.
The newly appointed judge must close their practice or resign from their jobs so they may begin the important work of serving this community.

Under the Maryland Constitution, any lawyer over the age of 30 living in Maryland may challenge the appointed judges.
NO VETTING IS REQUIRED TO CHALLENGE A SITTING JUDGE
NO LITIGATION EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED TO CHALLENGE A SITTING JUDGE
NO EXPERIENCE PRACTICING LAW IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO CHALLENGE A SITTING JUDGE
It takes just $50 to get on the ballot and circumvent the process described above.
The unappointed lawyer, whose credentials and experience have not been vetted, will sit on our Bench for 15 years if elected
This year, the only sitting judge has four challengers. These challengers either did not submit to or successfully pass the vetting process for the position now held by Judge Coderre.

By Authority: Friends of Judge Carol Coderre, Timothy O’Brien, Treasurer

Judge Carol Coderre,
PO Box 1431, Bowie, MD 20716

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