Judge Clyburn Appointed Next Chief Judge of District Court

(Annapolis, MD — November 16, 2004) District Court Judge Ben C. Clyburn has been named the next Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland. His appointment was announced by Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert M. Bell today. Judge Clyburn, an associate judge of the District Court for Baltimore City, will begin his appointment in the position when the District Court’s current Chief Judge James N. Vaughan retires Dec. 29, 2004.

“I am delighted that Judge Clyburn agreed to serve the District Court as its Chief Judge,” said Chief Judge Bell. “His commitment to the District Court and vision for the future are ideal qualities for this leadership role.”

Judge Clyburn was appointed to the court in 1995 by then-Gov. William Donald Schaefer.

Designated the Judge-in-Charge of the Eastside District Court, Judge Clyburn has been responsible for that facility’s daily operation. He has worked to develop both the First-Time Offenders Diversion Program and the Early Resolution program in Baltimore City. Judge Clyburn has served as chairman to the Early Resolution Court Committee.

Judge Clyburn is a member of the Domestic Violence Docket Oversight Committee at the Eastside Facility and serves as a member of the Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General’s Domestic Violence Council.

A native of Washington, D.C., Judge Clyburn attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the U.S. Air Force Academy. After Sen. Paul Sarbanes appointed him to the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, he attended the academy in Colorado Springs, Col., for about one year until a knee injury medically disqualified him. Judge Clyburn completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, graduating in 1978, and earned his law degree from that university in 1981.

Before his appointment to the court, Judge Clyburn served as assistant attorney general to the Office of General Counsel to the Motor Vehicle Administration from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1991, he was Assistant Attorney General to the Office of General Counsel to the Maryland Department of Transportation. In addition, he served as counsel to the Department of Transportation Minority Business Certification Council, and he received the Outstanding Assistant Attorney General Award for Exceptional Service in 1985.

In 1991, Judge Clyburn was appointed as Assistant Attorney General to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Office of the Attorney General. In 1993, he was promoted to the position of Chief Counsel to the Department of Transportation.

Judge Clyburn is married to Alethea “Lisa” Clyburn. His son Benjamin is a senior at the Parsons School of Design in New York.

For more information, please call the Court Information Office at 410/260-1488. Judge Clyburn will be available for interviews this afternoon. His photo is available upon request.