Anne Arundel District Court Judge Shaem C.P. Spencer has been appointed as the administrative judge for District 7 of the District Court of Maryland, covering Anne Arundel County. This appointment follows the announcement that Judge John P. McKenna, Jr., will step down from his role in preparation for retirement in June 2023 after two decades on the bench.
The decision to appoint Judge Spencer was made by Chief Judge John P. Morrissey of the District Court of Maryland, with approval from Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Matthew J. Fader. The new role will take effect on October 20, 2022.
Chief Judge Fader praised both judges: “On behalf of the Maryland Judiciary, I congratulate Judge McKenna on his distinguished judicial career,” he said. He also expressed confidence in Judge Spencer's leadership abilities, stating that he is "an excellent choice as a leader to continue providing fair, effective and efficient access to justice for all."
Judge Morrissey echoed these sentiments: “Judge Spencer is a leader in the District Court in Anne Arundel County," he remarked, adding that he is confident in Spencer's ability to excel in this administrative capacity.
In his previous roles, Judge Spencer has served as an associate judge since September 2008 following an appointment by then-Governor Martin O’Malley. His contributions include founding and presiding over Truancy Court and participating actively on various committees such as the Equal Justice Committee of the Judicial Council.
Judge Spencer also leads educational initiatives like Schools in the Court Program aimed at educating high school students about legal consequences through real court case observations and interactions with legal professionals.
Expressing gratitude for his new position, Judge Spencer stated: “I have worked with Judge McKenna for many years, and I am honored and humbled to be elevated to administrative judge.” He further thanked Chief Judges Fader and Morrissey for their trust in him.