Retired Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera receives 2023 Speaker’s Medallion

Retired Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera received the Speaker’s Medallion on April 4, 2023. Each year the speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates presents a medallion to a citizen in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the state of Maryland. The award was presented by Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones, who described Chief Judge Barbera as a “trailblazer who changed the face of Maryland’s highest court.”

Chief Judge Barbera was recognized for her incredible impact on Maryland, including her stewardship of the court through an unprecedented pandemic, her effort to improve responses to children, the poor, and to minority communities as well as her response to the national police protests, during which she acknowledged the system inequity that put more people of color through the justice system and reaffirmed the court’s obligation to ensure equal justice under the law. As the first woman appointed chief judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, Chief Judge Barbera was committed to creating a judicial system that was equal, fair, efficient, timely, and looked like the people it served.

“It is a privilege to be honored with this lovely and significant award,” said retired Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera. “I want to thank everyone in the House Chamber as well as their colleagues in the Senate and across the state for working diligently to serve the people of Maryland in the most important way – by making the laws of this state. We are fortunate indeed to have a strong—and effective—legislative branch of our state government.”