(BALTIMORE — Nov. 17, 2009) Judge Marcella A. Holland, administrative judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, has announced the appointment of Associate Judge M. Brooke Murdock to head the court’s criminal division. Judge Murdock is the first woman in the Baltimore City Circuit Court’s history to lead this division.

The appointment of Judge Murdock, a 12-year veteran of the court, will take effect Jan. 4, 2010. As the judge in charge of the criminal division, Judge Murdock will be responsible for the assignment of judges and the management of the criminal docket; she will also chair the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

“In addition to her finely tuned judicial skills, Judge Murdock brings with her the organizational skills and institutional history to continue the tradition of strong, excellent leadership of the most demanding division of our court,” Judge Holland said.

Judge Murdock replaces Judge John Philip Miller, who served in that capacity for two years. “The Court is extremely grateful to Judge Miller for his steady hand and innovations in the processing of criminal cases under his leadership," said Judge Holland.

“Judge Miller did an excellent job,” Judge Murdock said. “He was vigilant in finding new ways to improve the court’s efficiency. I hope to continue his tradition in the future.”

Judge Murdock was appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City in 1997 by Gov. Parris Glendening. At the time of her appointment, she was a principal with the law firm Ferguson, Schetelich, Heffernan & Murdock (now known as Ferguson, Schetelich & Ballew). In the years before joining private practice, she was an assistant federal public defender for the District of Maryland from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that appointment, she had served as an investigative attorney with the United States International Trade Commission, prosecuting corporations for unfair trade acts. From 1978 to 1979 and then again from 1983 to 1987, she served as an assistant state’s attorney in Baltimore City.

Judge Murdock received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in 1972 and graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1977. At Delaware, she was the first female editor-in-chief of the biweekly college paper, with a circulation of 10,000. Since becoming a judge, she has served on numerous committees for the state and Baltimore City, and as the president of the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges.

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Editor’s note: A photo of Judge Murdock is available. Please contact the Office of Communications and Public Affairs for a photo of Judge Murdock or for more information.