HELLER STEPS DOWN, HOLLAND NAMED ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR 
BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT 

Judge Holland takes over administrative responsibility for the court from Judge Ellen M. Heller, who will not seek reappointment when her term ends on November 7th. 
“I am absolutely delighted that Judge Holland has agreed to undertake the additional responsibilities in a leadership role that is vital to the court’s operation,” said Judge Bell. “She has discharged her responsibility as the judge in charge of the family division most capably, and I am fully confident that she will bring the same leadership and organization to her role as administrative judge.”
The newly appointed administrative judge, who is a native of Howard County and a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, was named to the circuit bench in 1997 and has been in charge of the family division since 2001. She graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1983 and from 1984 to 1997 was an assistant state’s attorney in Baltimore.
She has been a member of the judicial conference’s legislative committee, family law committee, and Justice Matters editorial board.  At the same time, she has been an active participant in numerous professional and community organizations and activities.  (For complete biographical information, visit http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/31cc/html/msa02640.html.) 

Chief Judge Bell said that Judge Holland is taking over a circuit court that has seen numerous improvements in recent years.

“The Baltimore City Circuit Court and, indeed, the Maryland Judiciary have been excellently served during Judge Heller’s tenure,” said Judge Bell. “Her dedication has been an inspiration, her expertise most evident, and her effectiveness well-proven time and time again.  Despite the drawbacks, she took on this job and discharged its responsibilities superbly.  Judge Heller’s new court management initiatives resulted in remarkable progress over the past four years, and no one could have asked for more.”

Among Judge Heller’s accomplishments:
• An annual report to inform the public, legislators and judges about the status of all dockets.
• Court-ordered mediation in certain civil cases, which a year-long study showed has resulted in cases moving through the system more quickly and economically.
• Strict enforcement of judiciary rules that require cases to move forward on a timely basis or risk dismissal: 95 percent of civil cases are now resolved within the case time standards.
• Improved management of asbestos cases and a pilot e-filing program to reduce the backlog of cases.
• Implementation of the state’s first business and technology program (a mediation component will be added soon).
• Creation of a differentiated case management system (cases are assigned to different tracks based on the seriousness of the charges and complexity of the case) and use of a computerized statistical management report. 
• Greater efficiency in handling the criminal docket.
• Modernization of jury process and improvement of juror facilities.
• Creation of a informative web page that includes emergency notices and juror news.

Judge Heller will remain on the bench as a trial judge after her term ends until a replacement is appointed.  She will serve as a resource to Judge Holland during the transition period.
Judge Holland welcomed her predecessor’s counsel, saying that Judge Heller had made wide-ranging improvements in the operation of the state’s busiest circuit court. “She has been very good at identifying problems, finding solutions and then setting goals for the court,” Judge Holland said, “and we will continue with that approach.”