David D. Downes, Esq., Chair (chosen by Court of Appeals), 1999
Appointed by Court of Appeals: Linda H. Lamone, Esq., 1999; B. Harriette Taylor, Esq., 1999; J. Donald Braden, Esq., 2000; Dana Miller, 2001; G. Douglas Reinhard, Esq., 2001; Thomas L. Starkey, Esq., 2001; Leo E. Green, Jr., Esq., 2002; Jerry Sachs, 2002; Mayda C. Tsaknis, Esq., 2002.
Melvin Hirshman, Esq., Bar Counsel
People's Resource Center
100 Community Place, Suite 3301
Crownsville, MD 21032 - 2027
(410) 514-7051
1-800-492-1660 (toll free)
e-mail: agcm@erols.com
World Wide Web: http://www.courts.state.md.us/attgriev.html
By Rule of the Court of Appeals, the Attorney Grievance Commission was created in 1975 to administer discipline and supervise the inactive status of lawyers. The Commission appoints, subject to approval of the Court of Appeals, a lawyer to serve as bar counsel and principal executive officer of the disciplinary system. The bar counsel and staff investigate all matters involving possible misconduct, prosecute disciplinary proceedings, and investigate petitions for reinstatement (Md. Rules, Chapter 1100, subtitle BV). By the same Rule of Court, the Court of Appeals also established a disciplinary fund to cover expenses of the Commission and provided for an Inquiry Committee and a Review Board to act upon disciplinary cases.
The Commission consists of eight lawyers and two lay persons appointed by the Court of Appeals for four-year terms. The chair is named by the Court.
INQUIRY COMMITTEE
Harry K. Wolpoff, Esq., Chair
(301) 951-8500
fax: (301) 951-6230
Appointed by the Attorney Grievance Commission, the Inquiry Committee consists of attorneys selected by the Bar Associations of the appropriate county or Baltimore City, and lay members.
REVIEW BOARD
Mary Ann Ferguson, Esq., Chair, 1999
Walter B. Childs, Esq., Vice-Chair, 2000
Selected by Board of Governors, Maryland State Bar Association, & appointed by Attorney Grievance Commission:
1st Appellate Circuit: H. Warren Crawford, Esq., 2000
2nd Appellate Circuit: Stanley H. Hellman, Esq., 1999; Louise T. Keelty, Esq., 2000; Thomas J. Renner, 2001.
3rd Appellate Circuit: Mary Ann Ferguson, Esq., 1999
4th Appellate Circuit: Robert H. Silberman, Esq., 1999
5th Appellate Circuit: Walter B. Childs, Esq., 2000
6th Appellate Circuit: Michael N. Gambrill, Esq., 1999; William S. Little, Esq., 1999; Aaron Kadish, Esq., 2000; Kenneth L. Thompson, 2001.
7th Appellate Circuit: Karen L. Bonnin, Esq., 2000; John F. Burke, Esq., 2001; Hugh E. Donovan, Esq., 2001; Robert A. Rohrbaugh, Esq., 2001.
Appointed by Attorney Grievance Commission: Sol Goldstein; Barry P. Gossett; Phyllis G. Lessans. Terms expire 2001.
The Review Board consists of eighteen members appointed to three-year terms by the Commission. Fifteen are attorneys selected by the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association. Three are lay members from the State at large. Judges are not permitted as members of the Board.
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