Maryland has Circuit Courts for each of its 23 counties, plus Baltimore City. The Circuit Courts hear major civil cases, more serious criminal matters, juvenile cases, family matters, and most appeals from the lower courts and administrative agencies.
In Maryland, Circuit Court judges are first appointed by the governor, then must stand for election. Any Maryland lawyer over the age of 30 can challenge the appointed judges in the election. Once elected, judges serve for 15-year terms. The Montgomery County Circuit Court (circuit 6) has 24 judges and four of them are up for election in 2024.
All four judges up for election to the Maryland Circuit Court for Montgomery County (circuit 6) were appointed by the governor. They are: Judge Marybeth Ayres, Judge Jennifer S. Fairfax, Judge Louis M. Leibowitz, and Judge J. Bradford McCullough. The Judge of the Circuit Court election is non-partisan, meaning a candidate's political party will not be listed on the ballot.
The Appellate Court of Maryland is Maryland's intermediate appellate court. The Appellate Court hears appeals from the circuit courts and orphans' courts in Maryland.
In Maryland, Appellate Court judges are first appointed by the governor, confirmed by the Maryland Senate, and then must stand for election by the voters every ten years. The Montgomery County Circuit Court has 15 active judges. Each of Maryland's seven appellate circuits is represented by at least one appellate court judge, and the remaining judges are at large, meaning they represent the entire state.
In 2024, Maryland voters will decide whether three at large appellate court judges should remain in office: Anne K. Albright, Kevin F. Arthur, and Andrea M. Leahy. The judge representing Montgomery County's appellate circuit (appellate circuit 7) is not up for election this year. The Judge of the Appellate Court election is non-partisan, meaning a candidate's political party will not be listed on the ballot.
The Montgomery County Board of Education oversees Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and makes education policies in the county. The board consists of eight members:
The student member is elected by MCPS high-school students for a one-year term; all other members are elected by county voters for four-year terms. All at-large and district races are county-wide. So, while the member from District 1 must live in District 1, they are elected by voters throughout the county. Also, Board of Education seats are nonpartisan, meaning the candidates are not officially identified by any political party.
Three seats are up for election in November 2024: an at-large seat and the seats for Districts 2 and 4. Browse the tabs above for information on each of the candidates.
Ruth Lynne Harris of Silver Spring has served on the Board of Education since 2020 as an at-large member and is currently vice president of the board. She has experience as a nurse, lawyer, and public health practitioner.
Rita Montoya of Silver Spring is an attorney with experience as a PTA president and juvenile public defender. She aims to close the achievement gap by increasing staff pay, instituting school safety and behavior protocols, and broadening curricular and extracurricular options.
Brenda Diaz of Gaithersburg is a teacher at Fusion Global Academy, an online school. Her campaign focuses on establishing safety in schools amid rising bullying, harassment, and violence.
Natalie Zimmerman of Rockville is a second-grade MCPS teacher at Wheaton Woods Elementary School.
Shebra Evans of Silver Spring has been serving on the Board of Education since 2016. Her previous background was as a financial analyst.
Laura Stewart of Silver Spring is a full-time volunteer and a current PTA president. Her platform focuses on transparency and accountability in the Board's procedures and budget.
In 2024, Montgomery County ballots will include a county charter amendment question. Voters will decide if Montgomery County Executives should be limited to two consecutive terms:
"Question A - Charter Amendment by Petition, County Executive - Term Limit - Reduction from Three to Two Consecutive Terms
Amend Section 202 of the County Charter to decrease the term limit that applies to the County Executive from the current three consecutive terms to two consecutive terms. The decreased limit would apply to anyone who already has served two consecutive terms as of December 2026."
Not everyone's ballot will be the same, even within Montgomery County. Official proofing ballots are available through the Maryland State Board of Elections. To see a sample ballot for your location, visit the link below and click on your county.
Some of the resources on this page are specific to Maryland or Montgomery County. If you are voting in a different jurisdiction, please use the resources below.
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