Judge Kathleen L. Beckstead Appointed Administrative Judge
for Circuit Court for Wicomico County
(SALISBURY, Md. – Oct. 20, 2010) Judge Kathleen Leonard Beckstead has been appointed county administrative judge for the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Maryland Court of Appeals announced the appointment, which was effective Sept. 18.
Judge Beckstead is the first female county administrative judge in Wicomico County and in the First Judicial Circuit (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties).
The county administrative judge is responsible for the supervision of all judges, officers, and employees of the court, assigning judges to cases, implementation of the court’s administrative policies and procedures and oversight of the court's budget.
Judge Beckstead succeeds Judge Donald C. Davis, who retired Oct. 5. Judge Davis had served as county administrative judge since November 2003, and had been an associate judge for the Circuit Court for Wicomico County since February 1999.
“I am confident that Judge Beckstead will continue the tradition of fine leadership as provided by Judge Davis,” Judge Bell said. “She brings exemplary leadership and management skills to meet the additional responsibilities of this position.”
Judge Beckstead has been an associate judge since August 2000. She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association, and Wicomico County Bar Association. She is a presiding judge for Wicomico County Circuit Court’s adult drug treatment court, and has served as a member of the Judiciary’s Drug Treatment Court Commission and the Problem-Solving Courts Committee.
A 1983 graduate of Villanova University, Judge Beckstead received her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1987. She was admitted to the Maryland bar that same year. Prior to her judicial appointment, she served as law clerk to Judge Alfred T. Truitt, Jr., and Judge D. William Simpson., was in private practice with Anthenelli & Otway from 1988-1996, and served as the Master of Domestic and Juvenile Law in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County from 1996-2000.
“I am deeply honored,” Judge Beckstead said. “I would like to thank Chief Judge Bell for the confidence he has shown in me with this appointment. I am thankful also to Judge Davis, and I look forward to continuing his example of excellent leadership.”
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