Bill > HB428

This bill allows the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland to temporarily reassign former judges to judicial duties under specific conditions. A "former judge" is defined as someone who has previously served as a judge. The bill permits the Chief Justice to assign such a judge to a court temporarily, provided the administrative judge of that circuit approves and the former judge meets certain criteria, including having served at least two years as a judge (or one year in Talbot County), being approved by a majority of the Supreme Court justices, meeting established standards, and consenting to the assignment. Crucially, this bill modifies an existing rule to allow former judges whose most recent service ended due to losing an election to be recalled, as long as they had previously won an election to judicial office. This is a change from the previous restriction that would have prevented such judges from being recalled. However, judges who were removed or involuntarily retired, voluntarily retired due to disability, were censured by the Supreme Court, or are currently practicing law are still ineligible for temporary assignment. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Justice

Judiciary (House)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0428?ys=2026RS