MECHANICS WANTED
Governor Larry Hogan Announces Judicial Appointments
Fills Vacancies on Baltimore City Circuit Court, Baltimore City District Court, Baltimore County District Court
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced the appointments of the Hon. Gregory Sampson and Robert Kinsey Taylor, Jr. to the Baltimore City Circuit Court, Catherine Chen and Geoffrey Hengerer to the Baltimore City District Court, and Karen Pilarski to the Baltimore County District Court. The governor made the appointments after reviewing nominees from the judicial nominating commissions.
“The swift appointment of qualified individuals to serve across our state’s justice system is vital to our commitment to serve the people of Maryland and preserve the rule of law,” said Governor Hogan. “I am happy to offer my sincere congratulations to each of these dedicated appointees and I have confidence that they will all be strong advocates for the law.”
Hon. Gregory Sampson has served on the Baltimore City District Court since 2009 and will be filling a vacancy on the Baltimore City Circuit Court.
Prior to his appointment to the District Court, Judge Sampson served as a Master in Chancery of the Division of Juvenile Causes in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. He also spent 7 years working for the Baltimore City Public Defender’s Office. Judge Sampson received his B.A. from the College of William and Mary and received his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Robert Kinsey Taylor Jr. has served as an Assistant Attorney General within the Criminal Appeals Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General since 2005 and will be filling a vacancy on the Baltimore City Circuit Court.
Prior to joining the Attorney General’s office, Mr. Taylor worked as an associate with Ingerman & Horwitz, LLP and Hoffman & Hoffman, P.A. Mr. Taylor received a B.S. from Towson University and received his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Catherine Chen has worked as a prosecutor in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office since 2014 and will be filling a vacancy on the Baltimore City District Court.
Prior to joining the State’s Attorney’s Office, she worked as a staff attorney at the House of Ruth Domestic Violence Legal Clinic and as a staff attorney at the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. She also worked as an associate at the New York firm of Tabat, Cohen & Blum, LLP where she practiced family law and as a staff attorney for the New York Administration for Children’s Services. Ms. Chen holds a B.A. from Tufts University and received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.
Geoffrey Hengerer is currently corporate counsel at Keller Foundations LLC and will be filling a vacancy on the Baltimore City District Court.
Prior to taking a position with Keller Foundations, LLC, he served as a Deputy Legal Counsel in the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel. He is a Major in the Marine Corps Reserve, serving as a Judge Advocate General. Maj. Hengerer was also a Member of the Baltimore-based firm of Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White, LLC and previously served as a litigation associate in the Washington D.C. office of Steptoe & Johnson, LLP. Maj. Hengerer holds a B.A. from Amherst College and received his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Karen Pilarski has spent her entire career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore County and will be filling a vacancy on the Baltimore County District Court.
Over the past twelve years, she has served as a District Court prosecutor, a juvenile prosecutor, and a Circuit Court trial team member focusing on felony child abuse cases. She has also served as the Unit Chief of the District Court Division. She received her B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
