Faculty Special Achievements

Court of Appeals Judge Irma Raker Receives National Award

(Annapolis, MD May 1, 2007) Judge Irma S. Raker of the Maryland Court of Appeals has been chosen to receive the 2007 Margaret Brent Award from the American Bar Association (ABA). Judge Raker represents the 7th Appellate Circuit (Montgomery County) on the stateÃs highest court. Each year, the ABA presents the Margaret Brent Award to five women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence while influencing other women to pursue legal careers, opening doors for women lawyers in job settings that historically have been closed to them, and advancing opportunities for women within the profession of law. The award is named for Margaret Brent, the first woman lawyer in America. Brent arrived in the colonies in 1638, and in 1648 demanded a "vote and voice" in the Maryland Assembly -- which the governor denied. This is the 17th year for the award.

Judge Raker is only the second woman in the well-over-two-hundred-year history of the Court to serve on this, the State s highest court, and she has proven to be a great asset, said Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Maryland Court of Appeals. She is an assiduous worker, an effective, scholarly, and articulate opinion writer, a willing team player, and a very valuable colleague. Her career has been characterized by efforts to further the understanding of justice and an unwavering commitment to excellence, particularly as it relates to the education of lawyers and judges.

For more information, please contact the Court Information Office at
(410) 260-1488.
Court Information Office
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building
Annapolis, Maryland

Doug Gansler was sworn in as MarylandÃs Attorney General on January 2, 2007.
Gansler sworn in as State Attorney General

Judge Nelson Rupp was awarded the 2006 Leadership in the Law Award by the Maryland publication The Daily Record.

Mark Austrian received a favorable decision in a case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The courtÃs decision requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide proper notice and allow for a comment period before unilaterally changing the ground rules regarding imported and exported products. The ruling also requires Customs to extend the same protections and preferences equally to all companies with the same products.

Judge Michael Algeo was awarded the 2005 Leadership in the Law Award by the Maryland publication The Daily Record.