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Judge Keith Baynes Named to Lead Cecil County Circuit Court

(ELKTON, Md. — Jan. 2, 2014) Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera has named Judge Keith A. Baynes as Cecil County Circuit Court administrative judge. The appointment was effective Jan. 1. Judge V. Michael Whelan, who had served as administrative judge since October 2010, is returning to the bench fulltime.

Administrative judges oversee the administration of the court, budget and procurement functions, and trial calendars to ensure the expeditious disposition of cases. They supervise the court’s judges, officers, and employees.

“I am grateful to Chief Judge Barbera for this opportunity,” Judge Baynes said. “It’s a privilege to serve the citizens of Cecil County, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue the high standards established by our courts to ensure timely and fair access to justice. I also want to especially thank Judge Whelan for his leadership and guidance, and I’m grateful for his support and assistance during this transition.”

Chief Judge Barbera said, “I want to thank Judge Whelan, who has provided exemplary service to the Judiciary and the people of Maryland as administrative judge. I know that Judge Baynes will continue to build on his fine example.”

Judge Baynes has been a judge for the Cecil County Circuit Court since January 2011, and has been the presiding judge of the drug treatment court since August 2011. Before his appointment to the bench, he was Assistant State’s Attorney for Cecil County from 1986-2011, and an assistant public defender for the county from 1980-1986.

Judge Baynes received his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1979 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar that year. He served as law clerk to Cecil County Circuit Judge H. Kenneth Mackey from 1976-1979. He is a member of the Maryland State and Cecil County bar associations, and is a past president of the Cecil County Bar Association.