S. James Sarbanes
County Administrative Judge, Wicomico County Circuit Court, 1st Judicial Circuit, since October 1, 2015 (Associate Judge, since March 21, 2014).
Member, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Judicial Process, 2002-04.
Born in Salisbury, Maryland, August 1, 1970. Salisbury University, B.S., 1993; Widener University School of Law, J.D., 1999. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1999. Law clerk to Judge Daniel M. Long, Somerset County Circuit Court, 1999-2000; Judge Dale R. Cathell, Court of Appeals, 2000-02. Associate, Adkins, Potts and Smethurst, LLP, 2002-05. Partner, Laws & Sarbanes, P.A. Member, Maryland State Bar Association, 1999- (construction law section; real property section); Wicomico County Bar Association, 2003-. President, Life Crisis Center, 2006-07 (member, 2004-10). Board of Directors, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, 2008-10 (member, 2005-). Member, Wicomico County Optimist Club, 2002- (vice-president, 2005); Salisbury Elks Club, 2011-. Baseball coach, Naamans Little League, 1994; Delaware American Legion Baseball, 1995; Optimist Little League, 2000; Fruitland Little League, 2011-; Man Up Baseball, 2012-. Member, Trinity United Methodist Church, 1980-.
Kathleen Leonard Beckstead
Chief Judge, Wicomico County Circuit Court, 1st Judicial Circuit, since August 7, 2017 (Associate Judge, August 4, 2000 to September 18, 2010, and since October 1, 2015; County Administrative Judge, September 18, 2010 to October 1, 2015). Presiding Judge-in-Charge, Drug Court, 2005-13, 2015-. Designated Member, Business and Technology Court, 1st Judicial Circuit. Member, Drug Treatment Court Commission, 2005-06. Member, Problem-Solving Courts Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference, 2007-09 (drug treatment court oversight committee, 2007-14). Member, Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee, Judicial Council, 2015-.
Master of Domestic and Juvenile Law, Wicomico County Circuit Court, 1996-2000. Member, Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission, 1st Commission District, 1999-; Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, Wicomico County, 2004-; Delinquency Prevention Board, and Local Management Board, Partnership for Families and Children, Wicomico County, 1999-2000.
Born in Galveston, Texas, July 28, 1961. Villanova University, B.A. (political science), 1983; University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., 1987. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1987. Law clerk to Judge Alfred T. Truitt, Jr., and Judge D. William Simpson, Wicomico County Circuit Court, 1987-88. Associate, Anthenelli & Otway, 1988-94 (partner, 1994-96); Webster & Anderson, 1996. Member, Maryland State Bar Association (family & juvenile law section, 1997-; family & juvenile law section council, 1995-99); Eastern Shore Chapter (founder, 1991; treasurer, 1992; president, 1998), Women's Bar Association of Maryland; Wicomico County Bar Association (vice-president, 1992; president, 1993; secretary, 1994, 1998). Member, National Association of Women Judges, 2001-. Fellow, Maryland Bar Foundation, 2001-. Mentor & coach, The Salisbury School, Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition, 2009-. Member, St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, Salisbury, Maryland.
Karen Martin Dean
Associate Judge, Wicomico County Circuit Court, 1st Judicial Circuit, since January 8, 2021
Deputy State's Attorney, Somerset County, 2007-10 (Assistant State's Attorney, 2005-07). Assistant State's Attorney, Wicomico County, 2011. Master of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Causes, Wicomico County Circuit Court, 2011-14. Senior Assistant State's Attorney, Worcester County, 2014-19 (supervising attorney, special victims unit, 2017-19). Felony Prosecutor, Office of State's Attorney, Worcester County, 2019-21.
Born in Milford, Delaware, November 12, 1974, University of Delaware, B.S. (agriculture), 1996; J.D. and M.S. (environmental law), University of Vermont School of Law, 1999. Law clerk to Judge Peter Paul Olszewski, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1999-2001. Admitted to Pennsylvania Bar, 1999; Maryland Bar, 2001. Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., 2001-05. Member, Wicomico County Bar Association; Worcester County Bar Association, 2019-; Women's Bar Association, 2019-; National District Attorneys Association. Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician, Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, Mount Vernon, Maryland, 2001-07 (board of directors). Member, Wicomico County Humane Society (board of directors, 2020-). Certificate of Appreciation, Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center, 2018.
Matthew A. Maciarello
Associate Judge, Wicomico County Circuit Court, 1st Judicial Circuit, since July 22, 2016.
State's Attorney, Wicomico County, January 3, 2011 to July 22, 2016. Resigned July 22, 2016. Deputy State's Attorney, Wicomico County, November 8, 2010 to January 3, 2011.
Member, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, Wicomico County, 2011-16.
Wor-Wic Community College, A.A. (general studies); Salisbury University, B.A. (political science), magna cum laude; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 2003. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 2003; Delaware Bar, 2008. Partner, Hearne & Bailey, P.A., 2009-10 (associate, 2005-09). Member, Maryland State Bar Association; Wicomico County Bar Association (president, 2008-09). Assistant legal counsel, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce. Member, Wor-Wic Foundation Board. Member, Salisbury Rotary Club (Paul Harris fellow). Youth soccer coach. Cub scout leader, Pack 185. Rotarian of the Year, Salisbury Rotary Club, 2006. Outstanding Public Health Leader for Wicomico County, Wicomico County Health Department, 2016. Married; two children.
Information courtesy Maryland Manual Online