Deputy State's Attorney Joseph S. Michael named to replace retired Judge Daniel P. Dwyer
Washington County Deputy State's Attorney Joseph S. Michael has been appointed to the circuit court bench to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Daniel P. Dwyer, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday.
"I'd like to thank Gov. Hogan and the local nominating committee for their faith in me," Michael said, "and I would like to recognize the other excellent applicants and nominees and encourage them to keep up their good work.
"I think we have a great bench and I'm looking forward to joining that bench."
Michael was chosen from a field of eight attorneys who applied for the position.
As a prosecutor, he handled major felony cases. He also maintained a part-time private civil practice handling domestic cases and business matters. Michael received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland and his Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law, according to a news release from Hogan's office.
Michael, 56, said he plans to run for a full 15-year term in the upcoming election for state and local offices, although he noted that he would reach the current mandatory retirement age of 70 with one year left in that term.
No one had filed for the office as of Thursday. The candidate filing deadline has been extended to March 22 for the June 28 primary and Nov. 8 general elections, according to the Washington County Board of Elections website.
"I've known Mr. Michael for 30 years and I'm looking forward to working with him," Administrative Judge Brett R. Wilson said. "I'm glad the governor put his faith in the selection process, and we are ready to get him to work as soon as we can get him on board."
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Michael said he has aspired to be a judge since starting work as a prosecutor in 1993.
He sees it as another opportunity to serve the public, a value that runs in his family.
"I have three brothers and a sister and we all have been public servants in one fashion or another," Michael said.
His brother, Boyd Michael, recently announced plans to retire after serving Washington County Public Schools for 43 years, the last five as superintendent.
"I identify as a public servant and that's what drives me," Joseph Michael said.
Dwyer retired Nov. 1. He was appointed to the circuit court bench by then-Gov. Martin O'Malley in 2009 and named administrative judge in 2016.
Dwyer served as an assistant state's attorney for Washington County from 1987 to 1994 and as a domestic relations master, now known as a family law magistrate, for the Circuit Court for Washington County from 1996 to 2009.
Jury trials are held in circuit court, but cases also can be decided by a judge only. The court generally handles more serious criminal and major civil cases. Those heard in circuit court include juvenile, family law and domestic violence matters as well as appeals from district court, orphan's courts and some administrative agencies, according to the Maryland Courts website.
Circuit court judges earn $174,433 per year, the website says.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Circuit court vacancy to be filled by prosecutor Joseph S. Michael
