Judge Sherri D. Koch named District Administrative Judge for Montgomery County

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Montgomery County District Court Judge Sherri D. Koch has been named administrative judge for District 6 (Montgomery County) of the District Court of Maryland. Judge Koch succeeds District Administrative Judge Patricia L. Mitchell, who will retire in January after 24 years on the bench.

After consulting with and receiving the approval of Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey named Judge Koch district administrative judge, effective November 16, 2020.

Judge Patricia L. Mitchell was appointed to the District Court in Montgomery County on December 2, 1996. She served the past three years as the administrative judge for District 6 and will assist Judge Koch with the transition to her new responsibilities.

“On behalf of the Maryland Judiciary, we are grateful to Judge Mitchell for her exemplary service as administrative judge of the District Court in Montgomery County and throughout her long tenure as a judge of the District Court in Montgomery County,” said Chief Judge Barbera. “Judge Koch is a distinguished jurist and is highly qualified for this new assignment. She brings excellent leadership skills and a commitment to justice that will be an invaluable asset to the court.”

District administrative judges oversee the administration of the court, budget, and procurement functions. They also manage trial calendars to ensure the expeditious disposition of cases.

“As the first woman named district administrative judge in Montgomery County, Judge Mitchell has served in the role with distinction and honor in fulfilling her commitment to access to justice in Montgomery County. She is also the county’s longest serving District Court judge, and her leadership over the years has been invaluable to the Judiciary,” said District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey.

“I am honored to have Chief Judge Barbera’s support and trust as I assume this new responsibility,” Judge Koch. “I feel privileged to have worked with Judge Mitchell for the past several years. She has provided a wonderful example of leadership that I intend to build upon. I welcome this opportunity to serve my community and the courts in this new capacity.”

Judge Koch served the District Court in Montgomery County since January 11, 2017. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University, she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar the same year. Before joining the bench, Judge Koch served as a law clerk to Judge Robert F. Fischer of the Court of Special Appeals (1993-1995), and as an associate at Jacobs, Jacobs, and Farber (1995-1996) and Fitzpatrick and Verstegen (1996). She later served as assistant state’s attorney in Montgomery County from 1997-2017, and was senior prosecutor, special victim’s unit, from 2014-2017. In 2014, Judge Koch was honored with the Integrity, Excellence, Leadership, Dedication (SHIELD) Award of the Anti-Defamation League.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Judge Koch since her appointment to the bench in January 2017,” said Judge Mitchell. “Judge Koch will do an outstanding job as administrative judge of the District Court in Montgomery County. Her administrative skills, combined with her sound judgment, strong work ethic and other fine qualities, will serve her well in this important post. She is the best choice to lead this court going forward, and I thank Chief Judge Barbera and Chief Judge Morrissey for this excellent appointment. It has been an honor and a privilege over the past three years to work with my colleagues on the bench and court staff who provide dedicated service to Montgomery County.”

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