ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION

David D. Downes, Esq., Chair, 1999

Appointed by Court of Appeals (which names chair): Alfred Nance, Esq., 1996; Martin B. Lessans, Esq., 1997; Seymour B. Stern, Esq., 1997; Leonard P. Steuart, 1997; Patricia G. Adams, Esq., 1998; Fredric B. Ratner, 1998; Linda H. Lamone, Esq., 1999; B. Harriette Taylor, Esq., 1999; J. Donald Braden, Esq., 2000.

Melvin Hirshman, Esq., Bar Counsel

100 Community Place, S-3301
Crownsville, MD 21032
(410) 514-7051
1-800-492-1660

By Rule of the Court of Appeals, the Attorney Grievance Commission was created in 1975 to administer discipline and supervise the inactive status of lawyers. The Commission appoints, subject to approval of the Court of Appeals, a lawyer to serve as bar counsel and principal executive officer of the disciplinary system. The bar counsel and staff investigate all matters involving possible misconduct, prosecute disciplinary proceedings, and investigate petitions for reinstatement (Md. Rules, Chapter 1100, subtitle BV). By the same Rule of Court, the Court of Appeals also established a disciplinary fund to cover expenses of the Commission and provided for an Inquiry Committee and a Review Board to act upon disciplinary cases.

The Commission consists of eight lawyers and two lay persons appointed by the Court of Appeals for four-year terms. The chair is named by the Court.

INQUIRY COMMITTEE
Harry K. Wolpoff, Esq., Chair (301) 951-0303

Appointed by the Attorney Grievance Commission, the Inquiry Committee consists of attorneys selected by the Bar Associations of the appropriate county or Baltimore City, and lay members.

REVIEW BOARD
Kerry D. Staton, Esq., Chair, 1997
Harry C. Storm, Esq., Vice-Chair, 1998

Selected by Board of Governors, Maryland State Bar Association, & appointed by Attorney Grievance Commission:

1st Appellate Circuit: James E. Thompson, Esq., 1997

2nd Appellate Circuit: Lloyd J. Hammond, Esq., 1997; G. Warren Mix, Esq., 1998; Stanley H. Hellman, Esq., 1999.

3rd Appellate Circuit: Mary Ann Ferguson, Esq., 1999.

4th Appellate Circuit: Robert H. Silberman, Esq., 1999.

5th Appellate Circuit: Paula J. Peters, Esq., 1997.

6th Appellate Circuit: Kerry D. Staton, Esq., 1997; Benjamin Rosenberg, Esq., 1998; Michael N. Gambrill, Esq., 1999; Lee N. Sachs, Esq., 1999.

7th Appellate Circuit: Jo B. Fogel, Esq., 1997; Joseph M. Quirk, Esq., 1998; Bryan Renehan, Esq., 1998; Harry C. Storm, Esq., 1998.

Appointed by Attorney Grievance Commission: Martin B. Blumsack; Ruth S. Levy; Richard L. Witte. Terms expire 1998.

The Review Board consists of eighteen members appointed to three-year terms by the Commission. Fifteen are attorneys selected by the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association. Three are lay members from the State at large. Judges are not permitted as members of the Board.

Maryland Judicial Offices & Agencies
Maryland Judiciary

Maryland Manual On-Line