Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.

The people of Somerset County are served by a Circuit Court, a District Court and an Orphans' Court. The people of Maryland are also served by a Court of Special Appeals.

The United States District Court for the District of Maryland has jurisdiction in Somerset County. Appeals from the District of Maryland go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

Judges[edit]

Somerset County, Maryland

District Court[edit]

Maryland Second District

Melvin J. Jews^[1]
Daniel R. Mumford
Gerald V. Purnell
John P. Rue, II
L. Bruce Wade^[2]

Circuit Court[edit]

Maryland First Circuit

Daniel Powell

Daniel M. Long^[3]

Orphans' Court[edit]

Orphans Court of Somerset County, Maryland

Libby M. Hall
Bob McCready
John R. Somers^[4]

Elections[edit]

See also: Maryland judicial elections

Maryland is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Maryland, click here.

Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2024
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2023
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2022
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2021
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2020
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2019
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2018
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2017
Maryland local trial court judicial elections, 2016
Maryland judicial elections, 2014
Maryland judicial elections, 2012
Maryland judicial elections, 2010

Election rules[edit]

Primary election[edit]

Circuit and orphans' court judges compete in a partisan primary for the Republican and/or Democratic nomination. Candidates may cross-file with both parties. The candidates who receive the most votes from each primary advance to the general election to compete against each other, as well as any minor party or independent candidates.^[5]^[6]

An example of the elections process for the circuit courts provided by the Maryland State Board of Elections:

“

In Circuit X, there are two incumbent judges who must stand for election. They are candidates A and B, a Democrat and Republican respectively. They both file Certificates of Candidacy to appear on both the Democratic and Republican Primary ballots. Candidate C, a Democrat and qualified member of the Bar also files a Certificate of Candidacy to appear on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots.
In the primary election, the Democratic Party selects candidates A and C (i.e. those two candidates received the most votes) and the Republican Party selects candidates A and B.
In the general election candidates A, B, and C all will appear on the ballot since they each won one or both of the primary elections in which they appeared on the ballot.
On the general election ballot, in addition to candidates A, B, and C, candidate D will also appear on the ballot. Candidate D is a member of the Green Party and a qualified member of the Bar and received the Green Party's nomination.
The two candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to office.

^[7]

”

—Maryland State Board of Elections^[6]

General election[edit]

Appellate judges stand for retention in the general election. Trial court judge candidates who advanced from the partisan primary run in the general election without party affiliation.^[8]

External links[edit]

Somerset County, Maryland

Footnotes[edit]

↑ Maryland State Archives, "Melvin J. Jews Profile," accessed July 1, 2014
↑ Maryland Courts, "Judges Currently Serving in the State of Maryland," accessed July 1, 2014 (Scroll to page 35)
↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named judges
↑ Maryland Courts, "Directory of Judges: Maryland Orphans’ Court," accessed July 1, 2014
↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Judicial Candidates," accessed April 7, 2014
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Elections - Circuit Court, Judicial Candidates," accessed June 17, 2014
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Maryland Election Law, "§ 9-210. Arrangement of ballots — Candidates and offices," accessed April 7, 2014

Maryland courts

Federal courts:

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maryland • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maryland

State courts:

Maryland Supreme Court • Appellate Court of Maryland • Maryland District Courts • Maryland Circuit Courts • Maryland Orphans' Court

State resources:

Courts in Maryland • Maryland judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maryland

[1] Maryland State Archives, "Melvin J. Jews Profile," accessed July 1, 2014

[list-2] Maryland Courts, "Judges Currently Serving in the State of Maryland," accessed July 1, 2014 (Scroll to page 35)

[judges-3] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named judges

[4] Maryland Courts, "Directory of Judges: Maryland Orphans’ Court," accessed July 1, 2014

[5] Maryland State Board of Elections, "Judicial Candidates," accessed April 7, 2014

[2012explanation-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Elections - Circuit Court, Judicial Candidates," accessed June 17, 2014

[quotedisclaimer-7] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[8] Maryland Election Law, "§ 9-210. Arrangement of ballots — Candidates and offices," accessed April 7, 2014

Somerset County, Maryland (Judicial)