Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera visited the Prince George’s County District Court as part of her ongoing statewide tour. This visit aimed to engage with judges and court personnel across Maryland, emphasizing the importance of direct communication in improving judicial services.
“Prince George’s County is one of our largest jurisdictions, and I’m grateful that my fellow judges made room in their busy dockets for this meeting,” stated Judge Barbera. Since her appointment by Governor Martin O’Malley in July, she has visited about half of the state's court facilities.
Judge Barbera emphasized the value of these face-to-face interactions: “Face-to-face meetings have been very helpful in opening an ongoing dialog about what our courts need to provide fair, timely, and easy access to justice.” During her time at Prince George’s County District Court, she expressed admiration for the staff: “It was an honor to meet the dedicated professionals who work so hard behind the scenes to operate the courts and enable our judges to do their jobs.”
Prince George’s County District Administrative Judge Thomas J. Love welcomed Judge Barbera's visit: “It was a privilege to welcome Judge Barbera as the new chief judge and to show her our facilities and introduce her to our wonderful staff.” He noted the significance of such visits: “There is symbolic importance in Chief Judge Barbera's visiting us where we live and work. It underscores that we are members of communities that have unique challenges, but we are also part of a network that serves all Marylanders. This visit was a chance to explore issues that we have in Prince George’s County as well as a chance to share thoughts about challenges we face together statewide.”