Senator honors Judge Vicki Baylou Watts as 'trailblazer' during Black History Month tribute

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Senate on Feb. 26 recognized Judge Vicki Baylou Watts with an extended floor tribute during Black History Month, describing her as a trailblazer who broke barriers for minorities and women in Baltimore County’s judiciary.

The senator from District 8 recounted Watts’s legal career: admission to the Maryland Bar in 1984, service in private practice, appointment in 1999 to the District Court of Baltimore County by then‑Governor Parris Glendening as the first African American woman appointed to that court in the county, subsequent appointment to the Circuit Court in 2002 and a successful re‑election to retain the seat. The senator also noted Watts’s leadership roles, including a term as president of the Baltimore County Bar Association and service on judicial committees such as the Judiciary’s Equal Justice Committee.

“Judge Baylou Watts has worked tirelessly to promote better understanding between the courts and the community,” the senator said, urging colleagues to stand and recognize her contribution to the state judiciary. The presiding officer accepted a motion to generalize the remarks and ordered them journalized.

The tribute noted that Watts retired as an active judge in February 2025 and has been designated a senior judge by the Supreme Court of Maryland, allowing her to continue accepting trial court assignments and serve on committees. Senators in the chamber offered additional acknowledgments and thanked Judge Watts for her service to Maryland.

The Senate journalized the tribute and moved on to the remainder of the day's business.