ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Wes Moore has appointed 13 members to the District 12 Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission, a body responsible for recommending candidates to fill judicial vacancies in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties. The appointments include legal professionals, public servants, and community leaders, with John L. Erly named as chair.
The commission is part of Maryland’s 16 Judicial Nominating Commissions, which play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the state’s justice system. These commissions evaluate judicial applicants based on factors such as legal expertise, professional background, temperament, and integrity.
“Our Judicial Nominating Commissions are critical to our justice system,” Governor Moore said. “I thank each of our appointees for raising their hands to serve and for helping us ensure that our state lives up to the full promise of promoting equal justice under law.”
Erly, a partner at Cumberland & Erly, LLC, brings decades of legal experience to the role. He has previously served as a special prosecutor in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties and participated in judicial nominating commissions under previous administrations. As a former president of the Calvert County Bar Association, Erly has long been an advocate for excellence in the legal profession.
Joining Erly on the commission are notable appointees from diverse professional backgrounds. Among them is Kelsey R.M. Bush, a community affairs liaison at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Bush has been a key figure in diversity initiatives and public service, having served on the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the St. Mary’s County Human Relations Commission.
Rebecca Cordero, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney for Calvert County, adds prosecutorial expertise to the commission. With prior experience in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties, Cordero’s work reflects a deep understanding of the justice system.
The commission also includes Rose C. Crunkelton, an attorney specializing in estate planning and business law, who has served as president of the Calvert County Bar Association. Melissa Ann Miller, an attorney with the Law Offices of Thomas Mike V. Miller, Jr., PA, brings criminal law experience to the group. Kevin J. McDevitt, a criminal defense attorney and mediator, provides additional legal insight with a background in multiple State’s Attorney’s Offices across Maryland.
Margaret Maupin, a staff attorney with Maryland Legal Aid, represents a focus on advocacy for underserved communities. Her career aligns with the commission’s mission of ensuring fairness and justice in judicial appointments.
Governor Moore emphasized the importance of these appointments in shaping the future of Maryland’s judiciary. The commission is tasked with advertising judicial vacancies, gathering recommendations, and conducting evaluations to identify candidates who uphold the principles of fairness, integrity, and professionalism.
The diverse expertise of the appointees reflects a commitment to ensuring that the judicial selection process represents the values of the community while maintaining the highest standards for Maryland’s courts.
