(UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Aug. 24, 2010) Chief Judge William D. Missouri, administrative judge of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court and the 7th Circuit, will retire Sept. 3 after more than 25 years on the bench.

To honor his service, a retirement celebration will be held on Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. at the Camelot, 13905 Central Ave., Upper Marlboro. Reservations are required, and the cost is $75 per person. For more information, contact Georgia Perry at the Prince George’s County Bar Association, gperry@pgcba.com, 301-627-9017.

Judge Missouri was appointed to the Prince George’s County Circuit Court by Gov. William Donald Schaefer in December 1987, and was elected to a 15-year-term in November 1988. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich reappointed Judge Missouri in November 2003, and he was then re-elected for a second term in November 2004.

Judge Missouri was named county administrative judge in October 1992. He was appointed administrative judge for the 7th Circuit, and has served in that capacity since May 1997. As the county administrative judge, he is responsible for the daily operations of the Circuit Court in Prince George's County, including the supervision of judges, officers and employees, the assigning of judges to cases, and the court’s budget. As administrative judge for the 7th Circuit, Judge Missouri is also responsible for the administration of the courts within the judicial circuit, including the supervision of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties’ administrative judges.

Before joining the Circuit Court, from 1985 through 1987, Judge Missouri served on the District Court of Maryland, sitting in Prince George’s County. He served as that District’s administrative judge from 1987 until his appointment to the Circuit Court.

“Judge Missouri has been an invaluable asset and a superlative leader for the Maryland Judiciary, serving the citizens of this State in many important capacities during his long and distinguished career,” said Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Maryland Court of Appeals. “On behalf of the Judiciary, I express profound gratitude for Bill’s extraordinary and selfless service to the people of Maryland, and in particular for his stewardship of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court and the 7th Circuit.”

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