Circuit Judge Julie R. Stevenson Solt has been appointed as the administrative judge of the Circuit Court for Frederick County, effective March 1, 2016. This appointment follows the retirement of Judge G. Edward Dwyer, Jr., who served on the bench for nearly 31 years.
Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera commented on the transition, stating, "Judge Solt is highly qualified to take on the leadership role of administrative judge of the court. She has provided more than 18 years of exceptional service to the citizens of Frederick County since her appointment to the Circuit Court, consistently demonstrating strong leadership skills. I look forward to working with her in this new role." Chief Judge Barbera also expressed gratitude towards Judge Dwyer for his dedicated service and effective management over his tenure.
In her new position, Judge Solt will manage various aspects of court administration including budget and procurement functions and trial calendars to ensure efficient case resolution.
Judge Dwyer has held the position of administrative judge since 1991 and will retire effective March 1, 2016. Reflecting on his career, he stated, "It has been an honor and a pleasure serving the citizens of Frederick County for more than 30 years, and I have truly enjoyed working with people I respect on the Frederick bench."
Expressing her gratitude for being selected by Chief Judge Barbera, Judge Solt remarked, "I am honored to be chosen by Chief Judge Barbera for this appointment and I welcome the opportunity to serve our Frederick community in this new capacity." She praised Judge Dwyer's leadership during his judicial career.
Judge Solt's educational background includes graduating summa cum laude from Mount Saint Mary's College and earning her Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1983. Her professional experience spans roles such as Chief Assistant State's Attorney and Deputy State's Attorney for Frederick County before joining private practice.
She currently serves as presiding judge for several programs including the Frederick County Adult Drug Court Program since 2004 and is involved with various judiciary committees including vice-chairing the Judicial Ethics Committee.