Governor O'Malley Appoints Albert J. Matricciani, Jr. and Kathryn Grill Graeff to Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
Judges will fill two vacancies on Maryland’s intermediate appellate court
ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 7, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the appointment of the Honorable Albert J. Matricciani, Jr. and Kathryn Grill Graeff to the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. Judge Matricciani will fill an at-large vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Mary Ellen Barbera to the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Ms. Graeff will fill a vacancy in the Third Appellate Judicial Circuit created by the retirement of Judge J. Frederick Sharer. The Third Appellate Judicial Circuit represents Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick, Howard, and Washington Counties.
“I am proud to appoint Judge Matricciani and Kathryn Grill Graeff to the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland,” said Governor O’Malley. “Judge Matricciani and Ms. Graeff each bring a keen intellect, a strong work ethic, and an impressive history of dedicated public service. I am confident that they will be outstanding judges on the Court of Special Appeals.”
Since 1995, Judge Matricciani has been an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. In that position, he has served as the Court’s Judge in Charge of the Family Division and Director of the Business and Technology Case Management Program. Judge Matricciani was instrumental in developing the statewide Business and Technology Case Management Program, a specialized court function within the Circuit Courts to adjudicate business and technology disputes. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law.
From 1980 to 1995, Judge Matricciani had a private law practice focused on civil litigation, family law, and alternative dispute resolution. Between 1974 and 1980, he worked for the Legal Aid Bureau on mental health law and consumer law matters.
Judge Matricciani has received numerous honors for his contributions to the law. Among them are the Judge Rosalyn B. Bell Award for outstanding achievement in Family Law from the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, Inc. in 2000, and Maryland’s Top Leadership in Law Award from the Daily Record in 2004.
Kathryn Grill Graeff is the Chief of the Criminal Appeals Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Since 1990, she has represented the State in criminal matters before State and federal appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler awarded Ms. Graeff an Exceptional Leadership Award to acknowledge her consistently superior performance in the Office of the Attorney General.
In addition to her work for the State of Maryland, Ms. Graeff has taught courses on legal analysis, research, and writing at the University of Maryland School of Law. Ms. Graeff also serves as a volunteer settlement officer for the Baltimore City Circuit Court, where she has mediated civil cases every year since 1999. From 2006 to 2007, she chaired the Criminal Law and Practice Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Ms. Graeff was a litigation associate at Smith, Sommerville & Case. She specialized in products liability, commercial litigation, and general civil litigation.
The two candidates were appointed from among nominees selected by the Appellate Courts Judicial Nominating Commission. More information on nominating commissions established by Governor O’Malley can be found at http://www.gov.state.md.us/executiveorders/01.01.2008.04eo.pdf.
