Prince George's Judge To Lead Maryland District Court
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP/WJZ) -- A judge from Prince George's County will take over this spring as the top judge of Maryland District Court.
Judge John Morrissey, 49, has been an associate judge for the District Court since 2005. He will take over for retiring Chief Judge Ben Clyburn, who has been District Court Chief Judge since 2004.
"It is a great honor to be selected for this key leadership position, and I look forward to supporting the mission and vision for this branch of government," Judge Morrissey said. "I, too, share Chief Judge Barbera's dedication to advancing the District Court as a model for fairness and efficiency, and I look forward to continuing the work that has made Maryland a model for others to follow. I thank Chief Judge Clyburn for his tremendous leadership and I look forward to working with him to ensure a seamless transition."
Mary Ellen Barbera, the chief judge of Maryland's highest court, praised Clyburn's fiscal responsibility and his efforts to integrate technology into court processes.
"I believe Judge Morrissey is a great selection," said Chief Judge Clyburn. "He has a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is a person of great integrity and is a staunch advocate for judicial professionalism."
Morrissey was named Judge of the Year in 2013-2014 by the Maryland State Bar Association Litigation Section, according to a news release from the Maryland court system.
The District Court is the first point of contact for most people entering the court system. It has 116 state judges and nearly 2,000 employees.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)