ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 28, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley announced today the appointment of Alexander Wright, Jr. and Robert A. Zarnoch to the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. Judge Wright will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Joseph F. Murphy Jr. to the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and Mr. Zarnoch will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James A. Kenney III.
“I am pleased today to announce the appointment of two of the State’s great legal minds to the Court of Special Appeals,” said Governor O’Malley. “Each has served the State of Maryland honorably in the past, and I am confident that they will continue their outstanding service to the State in these new roles.”
Alexander Wright, Jr. is a litigator in private practice at the law firm of Miles and Stockbridge P.C. in Towson, where he chairs the Alternative Dispute Resolution group. His practice focuses on medical malpractice, personal injury, construction, domestic, bankruptcy and labor and employment law. Judge Wright sits on several national panels as an arbitrator, including the National Association of Security Dealers, the American Arbitration Association, the New York Stock Exchange and the National Arbitration Forum. Before entering private practice, he served for almost ten years as a Baltimore County judge, both on the District and Circuit Courts. Judge Wright began his career as an Assistant Public Defender in Baltimore City and worked for thirteen years in the Maryland Attorney General's office, as principal counsel to several state agencies.
Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger said, “Judge Wright’s integrity, leadership, and passion for discerning the truth will make him an exceptional addition to the Court of Special Appeals.”
Robert A. Zarnoch has been the Attorney General’s Chief Counsel for Legislation and Counsel to the Maryland General Assembly since 1979. In his more than quarter-century of service to the General Assembly, Mr. Zarnoch has interpreted and reviewed the constitutionality of thousands of bills and worked with hundreds of legislators. He has argued 24 times before the Maryland Court of Appeals and litigated more than 20 First Amendment cases. Mr. Zarnoch has drafted significant pieces of legislation and authored over 80 published Attorney General’s opinions. Mr. Zarnoch has taught extensively at the University of Maryland and University of Baltimore Law Schools and has written numerous articles in the Maryland Bar Journal and the Daily Record.
“Bob Zarnoch’s knowledge of Maryland law and legislative history is unsurpassed in the State,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. “Over the years, his counsel has been invaluable to the legislature, and I am confident that he will serve the State with similar distinction as a judge,” said Speaker of the House of Delegates Michael E. Busch.
The two candidates were selected from a list of eight nominees selected by the Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission. More information on the appellate courts’ judicial nominating commission established by Governor O’Malley can be found at www.gov.state.md.us/executiveorders/01.07.08JudicialNominatingCommissions.pdf.
January 28, 2008 |
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