A Baltimore Sun article (2019-07-05) reported that Judge Clayton Greene, Jr. has retired from the Maryland Court of Appeals. There was no public announcement prior to the retirement.
Prior to serving on Maryland’s highest court, Greene served as a judge in District Court, the Circuit Court in Anne Arundel County, and the Court of Special Appeals. Greene was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2004.
From the Sun article:
Greene was raised in Freetown, a historically African American neighborhood in northern Anne Arundel County. …
“My parents always told me that I could have anything I wanted in life, provided I work for it,” [Greene said during a 2002 interview with The Capital].
At the time, he shared his judicial philosophy: “I think I am accessible, even-tempered, fair — but firm in my convictions. I treat everybody the same, whether you’re black or white, whether you’re young or old, whether you’re rich or poor.”
The article noted that Governor Larry Hogan will nominate a replacement for Greene. Further information on the nomination process from a Maryland Matters article (2019-07-07):
Greene has served on the appeals court for 15 ½ years, holding a seat representing the 5th Appellate Judicial Circuit – which covers Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. He was appointed to the high court by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican.
Hogan has already appointed three judges to the appeals court since taking office in 2015: Michele D. Hotten, Joseph M. Getty and Brynja M. Booth.
The Maryland Matters article also noted that Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, and Judges Joseph Getty and Robert McDonald will all reach retirement age before Hogan leaves office in 2023.
