2025 Judicial Conference Program

Empowering Justice: The Role of Judges and Civil Legal Services in Streamlining Court Efficiency HONORABLE DENNIS M. ROBINSON JR. CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY 401 BOSLEY AVENUE | TOWSON, MARYLAND 21204

DENNIS M. ROBINSON JR. is was appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore County in November of 2016. He was born and raised in the Baltimore area and attended local schools. After graduating from the University of Baltimore School of Law, he worked as an attorney at the Baltimore office of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells), where he handled a wide variety of complex business litigation. He then transitioned to Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, where he became a partner and continued to handle a wide variety of litigation, including business disputes, class actions, shareholder derivative actions, environmental litigation, real estate litigation, contract disputes, and civil rights litigation. In addition to his practice, he served as an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Judge Robinson was an active mentor and a frequent presenter of legal education programs regarding litigation, legal writing, discovery of electronically stored information, and other topics. He also received many professional and civic awards, including The Daily Record’s Leadership in Law Award, The Daily Record’s Very Important Professional Award, Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation), “Legal Elite” by Smart CEO, an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, Perry Hall Citizen of the Year, and several citations from the General Assembly and the Baltimore County Council for his community involvement. In his so-called “spare time,” Judge Robinson served for many years as the president of the Perry Hall Improvement Association, one of the oldest and largest community organizations in Baltimore County. He was a board member of the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, co-chair of the capital campaign for the White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company, and actively involved as a volunteer for Believe in Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation and other charitable organizations. Judge Robinson also completed the Leadership Baltimore County program. Judge Robinson remains actively involved in the legal community as a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation and a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and Baltimore County Bar Association.

Empathetic Advocacy: Effective Communication Strategies with Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Legal Settings DR. LEAH KATHERINE SAAL, PH.D. LEADABILITY, LLC CO-FOUNDER & COO

LEAH KATHERINE SAAL is a speech-language pathologist who is certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association and is licensed by the Maryland Board of Examiners. For over 30 years, she has been a Professor of Speech Language Pathology at Loyola University Maryland as well as a practicing Speech Language Pathologist. As an SLP, Dr. Schoenbrodt has provided in-depth assessment and individualized treatment with school-age children and adolescents who have language deficits as a result of a wide range of language and learning disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and more. She also has many years of experience in collaborating and consulting with teachers, professors, counselors, psychologists, and other specialists.

2025 JUDICIAL CONFERENCE

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