At the time of the American Revolution, the Court of Appeals was reformed by the Maryland Constitution of 1776 (sec. 56). Judges were appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Council (sec. 48), and the Court sat on the Western Shore in Annapolis.
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building, 361 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, Maryland, April 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building, 361 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, Maryland, November 2002. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
The 1864 Constitution increased both the number of justices and the number of judicial districts from four to five (Constitution of 1864, Art. 4, sec. 17). Justices served fifteen-year terms. By the Constitution of 1867 the number of judicial districts and justices each increased from five to eight (Constitution of 1867, Art. 4, sec. 14).
A reorganization of the Court, in 1944, reduced the number of justices to five (Chapter 772, Acts of 1943). One judge was elected from each of three appellate circuits, and two were elected from the fourth appellate circuit (Baltimore City).
Court of Appeals Judges, Annapolis, Maryland, August 2013. Photo courtesy of Court of Appeals Office of Communications & Public Affairs.
From left to right: Robert N. McDonald; Clayton Greene, Jr.; Glenn T. Harrell, Jr.; Mary Ellen Barbera (Chief Judge); Lynne A. Battaglia; Sally D. Adkins; Shirley M. Watts.
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