St. Marys County Associate Judge Kevin R. Hill received the highest honor in The Daily Record’s 2026 Leaders in Law program as the Top Leader in Law. The recognition came after an independent panel and peer vote among honorees from across Maryland.
The Daily Record, in partnership with the Maryland State Bar Association, presents the annual awards to attorneys and judges who show outstanding leadership and community commitment. With more than 42,000 attorneys licensed in Maryland, fewer than 2 percent have earned recognition through the program over 25 years. Judge Hill topped the list through a two-step process where an independent panel first selected Leaders in Law honorees based on professional accomplishment, community service and mentoring. Those honorees then voted by secret ballot for the Top Leader in Law.
Judge Hill serves as an associate judge on the Circuit Court for St. Marys County. Governor Wes Moore appointed him to the bench in July 2025 after he served as a family magistrate since November 2020. In that role he handled domestic matters including custody, access, child support and IV-D cases while reinvigorating the Family Recovery Court program.
Before his judicial service Judge Hill worked as an assistant states attorney for St. Marys County and as an assistant public defender in the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, District 4. He earned his juris doctor with honors from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, where he served as associate editor on the law journal. A lifelong Southern Maryland resident, he previously managed his familys restaurant business for more than 15 years before pursuing law at age 36.
Judge Hill expressed gratitude in a provided statement. I am deeply honored to be recognized as the 2026 Top Leader in Law by my fellow honorees. This distinction is not a culmination, but a reminder of the responsibility we carry as public servants. I accept it with gratitude and with a renewed commitment to serve the citizens of St. Marys County with integrity, fairness, and dedication both inside and outside of the courtroom.
St. Marys County Commissioner President Randy Guy highlighted the local impact. This is an extraordinary honor and a reflection of Judge Hills leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public service. To be selected by peers from across Maryland as the Top Leader in Law speaks volumes about the respect he has earned within the legal community and the impact of his work here in St. Marys County.
Beyond the courtroom Judge Hill founded the Southern Maryland Young Lawyers Initiative, a mentorship program that connects law students and early-career attorneys with experienced professionals across the region. He serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus teaching business law, litigation and professional development. He is the immediate past president of the St. Marys County Bar Association and has held roles including vice president, treasurer and scholarship committee member.
The 2026 honorees were celebrated April 20 at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport in Linthicum Heights. Profiles appeared in a special magazine insert and online. Judge Hills selection underscores the contributions of Southern Maryland legal professionals to statewide justice efforts, particularly in family law and community mentorship in rural and suburban areas like St. Marys County.
This achievement adds to Judge Hills record of service that includes membership on the Court Operations Committee, the Judicial Council, the Maryland State Bar Association ethics committee and the American Inns of Court Southern Maryland chapter. He also volunteers with Christmas in April and previously received recognition as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year from St. Marys County aging and human services programs.
The Leaders in Law program continues to spotlight professionals who strengthen Maryland communities through dedicated legal work. For St. Marys County residents the honor highlights local leadership that supports fair court processes and prepares the next generation of attorneys to serve the region.
