Members will review judicial candidates and make recommendations.
Frederick County Court House
Annapolis, Md (KM) Governor Wes Moore has announced appointments to Frederick County’ s Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission. The 13-member panel will advertise judicial vacancies; seek recommendations for judicial candidates for bar associations and members of the public; set closing dates for submitting applications; and evaluate each applicant.
“The Frederick County Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission plays a critical role in serving both the judicial system and the residents of Frederick County,” says Governor Moore, in a statement. “I am grateful for each appointee’s commitment to serve.”
The members of the Commission are:
Denise A. Hicks Brown, Chair
Denise A. Hicks Brown is a family law attorney with Conklyn & Kemp. Prior to joining the firm, Hicks Brown served as a staff attorney at Heartly House, Inc, providing legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Frederick County. Earlier in her career, she worked in the legal department at Thoratec Corporation and served as a law clerk in the federal public defender’s office in San Francisco and the public defender’s office in Marin County, California. She is a past chair of the young lawyers section of the Frederick County Bar Association and is a member of the character committee and budget and finance committee of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Joyce Roldan King
Joyce Roldan King is currently chief counsel at the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office. Previously, King served as a law clerk for Judge John W. Debelius of the Montgomery County Circuit Court. She serves on the boards of the National District Attorney’s Association and the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. She is a member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association and president of the Phoenix Foundation.
Rachel O. Reyes
Rachel Reyes serves as an assistant public defender in the Frederick County Office of the Public Defender. Previously, Reyes has served as an associate at The People’s Law Firm, where she handled criminal appeals, as a research assistant for the Honorable Gabrielle McDonald, and as a law clerk with the public defender service for the District of Columbia.
David C. Weaver
David Weaver has a practice focused on complex civil litigation and business and transactional law. Weaver represents Maryland banking institutions in loan workouts, collections and foreclosure proceedings, and has served as a mediator for over 20 years. He is past president of the Bar Association of Frederick County and a past president of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek. Weaver is also the former chair of the board for United Way of Frederick County and previously served on the Parks & Recreation Commission for the City of Frederick.
David A. Severn
David Severn has practiced law in Frederick County since 1980. He represents clients in all aspects of the zoning and land use process, appearing regularly before planning commissions, boards of appeal and legislative bodies of Frederick County and its municipalities. He also has an extensive commercial real estate practice and has served as lead counsel in numerous complex real estate development projects. Severn is legal counsel to the Town of Walkersville and the City of Brunswick, and is the co-author of the City of Cumberland, Maryland’s Zoning Ordinance.
Carla N. Clarke
Carla Clarke is a partner at Flynn & Clarke, LLC where her practice focuses on civil litigation and family law. Since 2014, she has also worked as a real estate broker with Clarke Realty, LLC and is a licensed mediator. She is a past president of the Downtown Frederick Partnership, a member of the Bar Association of Frederick County Executive Committee, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek. She served as a judicial law clerk to Hon. G. Edward Dwyer, Jr.
Elizabeth Rae Long
Elizabeth Rae Long is an associate at the Law Offices of Marc S. Ward, LLC, where she handles criminal defense, personal injury, landlord tenant, debt collection, breach of contract, and workers compensation litigation. She handles all human resource issues for the firm as well as compliance issues. Additionally, Long conducts training for the Office of the Public Defender. She previously served as an assistant state’s attorney in Frederick County.
Teresa Ann Mena
Teresa Ann Mena sat on the previous Frederick County Judicial Nominating Commission. Mena has served for more than eight years as a regional business solutions consultant in Maryland. She has spent five years with Frederick County Public Schools as a community liaison and special education instructional assistant. Mena earned her B.A. from the University of Adelphi in 1989, and is a graduate of the Frederick Leadership Academy.
Gwendolen C. Lesh McLeod
Gwendolen Lesh McLeod is a family law attorney frequently appointed to represent children in cases involving contested custody issues. McLeod is a regular speaker for local groups and organizations, discussing issues involving divorce, family law and domestic violence. She was a member of the Commission on Child Custody Decision-Making Court Processes Committee and served as chair to the Frederick County Family Law Bar.
Lorraine M.B. Prete
Lorraine M.B. Prete is a partner with Kaslick & Prete, LLC practicing family law. In 2002, Prete became a civil and family law mediator for private and court ordered cases and is certified for Maryland eldercare and adult guardianship mediation. She is the immediate past chair of the Maryland State Bar Association, Family Law Section Counsel. She is also a past president of the Frederick County Bar Association.
Lawrence E. Finegan
Lawrence Finegan is a solo practitioner with a general practice concentrating on family law, mediation, criminal defense, and civil litigation in the state’s trial and appellate courts. Prior to forming his own practice, Finegan was a partner at Miles & Stockbridge. He also served in the United States Navy from 1970-1974 and is a former high school teacher. Finegan is a mock trial judge for the Frederick County Bar Association.
Shondell H. Foster
Shondell Foster is a family law attorney with D|Law representing clients in all aspects of family law cases. Previously, Foster served as a staff attorney with Heartly House and as a research associate for the Montgomery County Council. She has taught as a substitute teacher, interned with the Maryland General Assembly, and managed cases for the Washington College of Law Civil Practice Clinic.
Scott M. Hartinger
Scott Hartinger is a partner with Etheridge, Quinn, Kemp, Rowan & Hartinger. He practices primarily in the areas of personal injury, worker’s compensation, and business litigation. He is a trained mediator, a fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation, and past president of the Frederick County Bar Association. Hartinger also previously served on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County.
There are 16 Trial Court Judicial Nomination Commissions in Maryland each established by executive order.
By Kevin McManus