By Brian Shane

Staff Writer

Judge Gerald V. Purnell, the Eastern Shore’s first African-American District Court judge, has retired after an 18-year career on the bench. His last day was August 31, according to online records.

Purnell was appointed by former Gov. Robert Ehrlich and began his judgeship in 2006. Of the seven people who applied for the job, he was the only African-American applicant.

He also served since 2013 as the administrative judge for Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. His successor in that role has been named as Judge Melvin J. Jews, out of Dorchester County, according to the state judiciary.

Prior to becoming a judge, Purnell served from 2003 to 2005 as a deputy state’s attorney in Dorchester County. He also was legal counsel to Ocean City’s Board of Zoning Appeals from 2001 to 2002, according to online records.

A 1978 graduate of Bucknell University, Purnell earned his law degree in 1978 from the Antioch School of Law, now part of the University of the District of Columbia.

Moving forward, it could take months for Gov. Wes Moore to name a replacement. A judicial nominating committee first must accept applications and narrow down the candidates. Then the committee would hold one-on-one roundtable interviews before eventually giving their shortlist to the governor for review. Applicants’ names are a matter of public record.

While three applicants already have been vetted at the state level as applicants for an District Court opening – local attorneys Michael Farlow, Regan Smith, and David Gaskill –  other candidates may express interest and apply once the vacancy is formally announced.

Maryland’s governor last appointed a new District Court judge for the Eastern Shore in 2022, when Gov. Larry Hogan named Cathi Coates to fill the opening created by the retirement of Judge Daniel Mumford. Coates became the first woman ever named to the District Court bench in Worcester County.

The list of applicants to succeed Mumford in 2022 included Coates, Patrizia Coletta, Farlow, Gaskill, Steven Rakow, Smith and Kristina Watkowski. After vetting the applicants, the Judicial Nominating Commission forwarded Coates, Farlow, Gaskill and Smith.

Previously, in 2017, former State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby and family court judge Peggy Kent were named Worcester County Circuit Court judges over other applicants Gaskill, attorney Jeff Cropper and Smith. Oglesby and Kent replaced retiring judges Thomas Groton and Richard Bloxom, respectively.