By Brian Shane

Staff Writer

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has convened a nominating commission to fill two judicial vacancies on the Lower Shore.

“Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester County residents deserve diverse, talented, and knowledgeable representation on their Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission,” Moore said in an April 25 statement. “These appointees reflect our commitment to those principles, and I am grateful that each appointee has raised their hand to serve.”

The 13-member commission will be tasked with forwarding candidates to the governor to replace Worcester County District Court Judge Gerald Purnell and Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Peggy Kent.

Both candidates were historic for Worcester County: Purnell was the county’s first-ever African American judge, and Kent was the county’s first female judge to serve on the Circuit Court.

Purnell stepped down Aug. 31, and Kent reached the state’s mandatory judicial retirement age of 70 last month. Neither position has been filled, though Kent has been serving as a substitute on the circuit bench in retirement.

From here, the bench openings will be formally advertised, and the commission will hold open a 30-day application window. Candidates must complete a lengthy application.

Next, the commission will meet to interview all the applicants in person. Finalists would then be forwarded to the governor’s office to fill each appointment. The final decision falls to the Gov. Moore.

Members of this nominating commission, most of whom are practicing attorneys, all hail from the Lower Shore counties of Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset.

Moore named Heather Stansbury, a veteran attorney with the Ocean City firm of Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy, and Almand, as the commission chairperson. She also served on past nominating commissions for governors Martin O’Malley and Larry Hogan.

Other commission members include Ashley Bosche, Lili Chi-Fang Tsai, Gorman Getty, Kendra Hayward, Roscoe Leslie, Carolyn Mathers, Kelly McFadden, Robert Mock Jr., Reena Patel, Christine Powell, Amy Taylor, and Megan Tawes.

Governors don’t name a nominating commission, which has a five-year-term, unless there’s a need for one. The last judge appointed to the bench in Worcester County was Cathi Coates, a former magistrate, in 2022 by Gov. Hogan. She replaced the retired Ocean City District Court Judge Danny Mumford.

Existing pool candidates carrying over from prior judicial searches include Worcester County attorneys Mike Farlow, David Gaskill, and Regan Smith, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.