Judge Pamila J. Brown Named District Administrative Judge
for Carroll and Howard Counties

(ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, May 22, 2017) — Howard County District Judge Pamila J. Brown has been named Administrative Judge for District 10 (Carroll and Howard counties) of the District Court of Maryland.  After consultation with Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey designated Judge Brown District Administrative Judge, effective July 1.  Judge Brown succeeds Judge JoAnn M. Ellinghaus-Jones, who was appointed to the Howard County District Court on April 5, 1991 and has served as Administrative Judge for District 10 since September 20, 2001. Judge Ellinghaus-Jones will retire on June 30.

“Judge Brown’s exceptional leadership skills and management experience, including her recent service as president of the Maryland State Bar Association, make her an ideal candidate for the role of District Administrative Judge,” said District Court Chief Judge Morrissey.  “I am confident she will build on the excellent example of Judge Ellinghaus-Jones to serve the people of Carroll and Howard counties.  I thank Judge Ellinghaus-Jones for her exemplary service as a jurist and a leader.”

“Judge Brown is eminently qualified to take on the leadership of the District Court in Carroll County and Howard County,” said Chief Judge Barbera.  “I look forward to working with Judge Brown in her new capacity as administrative judge.  I expect Judge Brown will make significant contributions to the operations of the District Court, building upon the excellent work of Judge Ellinghaus-Jones during her tenure as administrative judge.  ”

“This is an exciting time for the Judiciary, and I am honored by the confidence Chief Judge Morrissey and Chief Judge Barbera have shown in me,” Judge Brown said.  “I have worked alongside Judge Ellinghaus-Jones for nearly my entire judicial career, and I hope to build upon the foundation she has created over the past 16 years to ensure excellent service and access to justice for all who visit our courts.  I am thrilled that District 10 will be undertaking major initiatives in the next several years, and I am excited about the opportunity of bringing the statewide initiatives to our jurisdiction, including Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC).”

Judge Brown has served on the Howard County District Court since May 7, 2002.  After earning a Bachelor of Science from Macalester College, she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1979 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1981.  Before she was appointed to the bench, Judge Brown was Assistant City Solicitor in the Baltimore City Law Department from 1981 to 1986, then served in the Maryland Office of the Attorney General from 1986 to 2002, including as Deputy Counsel to the State Treasurer, from 1992 to 1996; Deputy Counsel, State Highway Administration, from 1996 to 1998; and Principal Counsel, Department of General Services, from 1998 to 2002.

Judge Brown is a frequent lecturer locally and nationally on litigation techniques, domestic violence, trial advocacy, traffic matters, implicit bias, civics, and professionalism.  She has served as faculty for the Maryland Judicial College, an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, and at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). 

Judge Brown has served on the American Bar Association’s Task Force on Human Trafficking and is former Chair of the ABA’s Commission on Domestic Violence.  She currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the ABA’s National Conference of Specialized Trial Court Judges.  In addition, she currently serves as Chair of the Maryland Judiciary Community Relations Subcommittee of the Judicial Council.  Her honors and awards are numerous and include being named as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women and a recipient of the Maryland Leadership in the Law by the Daily Record.

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