Senate Executive Nominations Committee advances 17 judicial nominees and Jill Carter to Board of Contract Appeals

The Maryland Senate Executive Nominations Committee on Jan. 27 advanced a slate of nominees — including former state senator Jill Carter for the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals and 16 judges for the District Court and one justice for the Supreme Court of Maryland — by voice vote during a regularly scheduled committee meeting in Annapolis.

Why it matters: The committee’s approval moves the nominees forward to the full Senate for confirmation and shapes the composition of Maryland’s trial and appellate benches and an administrative tribunal that resolves state contracting disputes.

Committee Chair Senator Lamb convened the meeting and said the panel had a “busy agenda” that evening. Senator Tahir (presenting Senator Jill Carter) and other members praised Carter’s procurement background and public service. Carter told the committee she had prior experience as a lawyer representing contractors and bid protests and said she would bring “integrity, transparency and efficiency” to the Board of Contract Appeals. After brief remarks by several senators on other nominees, the committee administered oaths to judges appearing before the panel, heard short biographical remarks from nominees and their introducers, and then voted to advance the full slate.

What the committee advanced: Presenters and nominees described a range of experience among the candidates, often emphasizing local ties, specialty-court work and prior public-service roles. Nominees introduced and speaking included:

- Jill Carter — nominated to the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals; introduced by Senator Tahir and endorsed by Senator Dalia Atar, who cited Carter’s years of public service and work ethic. Carter said her prior legal work included representing contractors and handling procurement disputes.

- Holly David Reed III — reappointment to the District…