Today, Governor Larry Hogan announced that Joseph M. Getty will assume the role of Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest court. Judge Getty will take over for Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera on September 11, 2021. In a press release, the Governor also announced the appointment of Judge Steven B. Gould to the Court.
The Governor offered praise for both Chief Judge Barbera and Judge Getty:
“Judge Gould is a distinguished jurist committed to justice and fairness, and it is my privilege to elevate him to the state’s highest court,” said Governor Hogan. “I am also pleased to name Judge Getty as the state’s chief judge, and I know he will continue to provide exemplary service on the bench. Lastly, on behalf of all Marylanders, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Chief Judge Barbera, and wish her well in her retirement.
Judge Getty and Judge Robert N. McDonald are slated to retire in 2022, and Governor Hogan has “directed the Chief Legal Counsel to immediately begin a process to identify a new chief judge, replacements for Judge Getty and Judge McDonald, as well as a replacement for Judge Gould on the Court of Special Appeals.”
Regarding Judge Gould, the Governor offered the following biography:
Judge Gould was appointed to the Court of Special Appeals, 7th Appellate Court (Montgomery County), in March 2019. Mr. Gould was a founding partner of Brown Gould Kiely, LLP. He is a trial lawyer and civil litigator who has litigated, arbitrated, and tried numerous complex commercial litigation cases. He has served as the co-chairperson of the Commercial Litigation Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County, and is active in his synagogue, Congregation B’nai Tzedek, where he has served on the board of directors and currently holds the position of general counsel. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law, cum laude.
