Governor Larry Hogan Announces Judicial Appointments
Fills Vacancies on Court of Appeals, Court of Special Appeals
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced the appointments of Brynja McDivitt Booth to the Court of Appeals – 1st Appellate Circuit, Judge Edward Gregory Wells to the Court of Special Appeals, and Steven Bennett Gould to the Court of Special Appeals – 7th Appellate Circuit. The governor made the appointments after interviewing nominees sent by the Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission.
“The appointment of qualified individuals to serve across our state’s justice system is paramount to upholding our responsibilities to the people of Maryland and the rule of law,” said Governor Hogan. “I have confidence that Ms. Booth, Judge Wells, and Mr. Gould will be strong advocates for the law and will serve the citizens of their respective jurisdictions and the State of Maryland admirably.”
Brynja McDivitt Booth has been appointed to the Court of Appeals, 1st Appellate Circuit, which includes Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. Ms. Booth is an attorney and shareholder of Booth, Booth, Cropper & Marriner, P.C. and has extensive appellate experience. Ms. Booth is the president of the Maryland Municipal Attorneys Association. She is a frequent speaker on appellate practice and land use. She received her B.A. from Bucknell University, cum laude, and her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, cum laude. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable William S. Horne, Circuit Court for Talbot County.
Edward Gregory Wells had been appointed as an at-large member of the Court of Special Appeals. Judge Wells has served as a judge on the Circuit Court for Calvert County since 2012. Prior to his appointment to that Court, he served as a judge on the District Court of Maryland serving three southern Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s. He also served as Master for Domestic Relations and Juvenile Causes for Calvert County. Judge Wells also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Office of the Attorney General and was the first African-American to serve as Calvert County State’s Attorney. He received his B.A. from the College of William and Mary and his J.D. from the University of Virginia, School of Law.
Steven Bennett Gould has been appointed to the Court of Special Appeals, 7th Appellate Court (Montgomery County). Mr. Gould is a founding partner of Brown Gould Kiely, LLP. He is a trial lawyer and civil litigator who has litigated, arbitrated, and tried numerous complex commercial litigation cases. He has served as the co-chairperson of the Commercial Litigation Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County, and is active in his synagogue, Congregation B’nai Tzedek, where he has served on the board of directors and currently holds the position of general counsel. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law, cum laude.
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