2023 Judicial Conference Program

HONORABLE JOHN P. MORRISSEY DISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND | DISTRICT COURT HEADQUARTERS 187 HARRY S. TRUMAN PKWY | ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401

JOHN P. MORRISSEY, Chief Judge , District Court of Maryland, since June 1, 2014. Associate Judge, District Court of Maryland, District 5, Prince George’s County, January 6, 2006 to June 1, 2014. Member, Judicial Ethics Committee, 2006-14, Civil Law and Procedure Committee, 2009-12, Maryland Judicial Conference. Member, State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, 2007-14; Governor’s Commission to Reform Maryland’s Pretrial System, 2014; Task Force to Study Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland, 2014. Vice-Chair, Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2014. Member, Technology Oversight Board, 2014-15. Chair, Maryland Electronic Courts Advisory Committee, 2014-. Member, Judicial Cabinet, 2014-, and Judicial Council, 2014- (executive committee, 2014-), Maryland Judicial Conference. Chair, District Court Chief Judge’s Committee, Judicial Council, 2015-. Member, Court Technology Committee, 2015- (chair, major project executive steering subcommittee, 2017-20), Legislative Committee, 2015-, and Equal Justice Committee, 2020-, Judicial Council. Chair, Major Projects Committee, Judicial Council, 2020-. Member, Forensic Services Work Group, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2016; Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board, 2016-. Counsel to Board of Education, Prince George’s County, 2003-05. Former member, Peer Review Committee, Attorney Grievance Commission. Born inWashington, DC. Lifelong resident of PrinceGeorge’sCounty. AttendedDeMathaCatholicHighSchool, Hyattsville,Maryland; James Madison University, B.B.A. (business administration), magna cum laude, 1986; University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1989 (heuisler honor society; american jurisprudence award winner for contracts and commercial transactions). Editor-in-Chief, University of Baltimore Law Review, vol. 18, 1988-89. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1989; U.S. District Court for District of Maryland, 1991; U.S. Court of Appeals for 4th Circuit, 1992; District of Columbia Bar, 1995. Associate, Venable, Baetjer and Howard, 1989-92. Partner, Morrissey Brothers, PC, 1992-2006. Member, Maryland State Bar Association; Prince George’s County Bar Association; Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Mentor, University of Baltimore School of Law. Managing Member, Emerald Investment Group, LLC, 1994-2006; Bay Shore Yacht Sales, LLC, 1995-2006. Director, Bowie Health Center Foundation. Member, Legislation Committee, Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce. Author, “Equal Access to Pole Attachment Agreements: Implications of Telephone Company Participation in the Cable Television Industry,” 18 University of Baltimore Law Review, 165 (1989). Judge of the Year, 2013-2014, Litigation Section, Maryland State Bar Association. Influential Marylander in Law, Daily Record, 2017. Power 100 List, Daily Record, 2021.

DOUGLAS E. NIVENS II, ESQ. MARYLAND LEGAL AID 500 E. LEXINGTON ST. | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21202

DOUGLAS E. NIVENS II, ESQ. left a more than 10-year career with the Social Security Administration in 2019 to pursue a career as a lawyer with Maryland Legal Aid (MLA). While the switch was a risk, he believes it was the “best decision” he has ever made in his professional life. In his second year at MLA, Nivens worked in appellate advocacy on cases that addressed issues tenants face in renting unlicensed properties in Baltimore. The Maryland Court of Appeals granted certiorari in three of the cases he worked on – two of which he argued. Most recently, in January, a fourth case was granted certiorari. Nivens hopes to one day hold a leadership role at a nonprofit law firmwhile teaching part-time at a university to help people reach their potential. Nivens is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and holds membership in the Monumental City Bar Association.

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