CHAIR
![[photo, Diane O. Leasure, Howard County Circuit Court Judge]](/msa/mdmanual/31cc/images/1198-1-3824b.jpg)
DIANE O. LEASURE, Chair, Conference of Circuit Judges, since December 4, 2008 (vice-chair, December 4, 2004 to December 4, 2008; circuit representative, 1996-2002; executive committee, 2002-). Circuit Administrative Judge, 5th Judicial Circuit (Anne Arundel, Carroll & Howard counties), since January 4, 2002. County Administrative Judge, Howard County Circuit Court, 5th Judicial Circuit, since January 4, 2002. Associate Judge since November 13, 1995. Member, Criminal Law and Procedure Committee, 1997-2000, 2001-, Family and Domestic Relations Law Committee, 2000-01, Judicial Council, 2000-05, and Judicial Compensation Committee, 2002-, Maryland Judicial Conference. Member, Circuit Court Libraries Study Committee, 2000-01; Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2008-.
Born in Cumberland, Maryland, June 11, 1952. Attended Allegany High School, Cumberland; Glassboro State College, B.A. (human behavior & development), magna cum laude, 1974. Teacher, West Deptford Middle School, West Deptford, New Jersey, 1974-77. Adjunct faculty, Glassboro State College, 1976-80. Drexel University, M.S., 1977. Faculty, Cook College, Rutgers University, 1977-79. Rutgers University School of Law, J.D., 1982. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1982. Principal, Fossett & Brugger, 1988-95 (associate, 1982-88). Member, American Bar Association; Federal Bar Association (board of governors, 1994); Maryland State Bar Association (judicial administration section; board of governors, 1995; executive committee, 1995; judicial administration council, 2006-08; chair, committee on planning, 1995; chair, special committee on citizenship & law-related education, 2002-; co-chair, special committee on leadership academy); Virginia State Bar Association; Women's Bar Association of Maryland (long-range planning committee, 1995). President, Howard County Bar Association, 2004- (president-elect, 2003-04). Member, Prince George's County Bar Association (president, 1994-95). Member, Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Maryland Trial Lawyers' Association; Marlborough Inn of Court. Board of Trustees, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL). President's Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Bar and the Community, Prince George's County Bar Association, 1991, 1994. President's Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of outstanding service to the Bar, Prince George's County Bar Association, 1993. Maryland Leadership in Law Award, Daily Record, 2004, 2007. Anselm Sodaro Judicial Civility Award, Maryland State Bar Association, 2008. Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2009.
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