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 Maryland Manual On-Line, 2020

July 31, 2020

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WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

CIRCUIT COURT

CLERKS

[photo, Courtroom, Worcester County Courthouse, One West Market St., Snow Hill, Maryland]
  • Circuit Court Clerks
  • County Court Clerks



    • Courtroom, Worcester County Courthouse, One West Market St., Snow Hill, Maryland, June 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    COUNTY COURT CLERKS

    Appointed by Secretary in Maryland:
    1743-1752 Robert King III (died April 1752)
    1752-1777 Henry Johnson

    Appointed by County Court Justices (Constitution of 1776, sec. 47):
    1777 Robert Dennis
    1777 John Done
    1778-1795 James Round Morris
    1795-1837 John C. Handy

    Appointed by Governor to 7-year terms (Chapter 224, Acts of 1836, confirmed by Chapter 160, Acts of 1837):
    1837-1847 Gordon M. Handy
    1847-1851 Edward D. Martin

    CIRCUIT COURT CLERKS

    Elected by Voters to 6-year terms (Constitution of 1851, Art. IV, sec. 14):
    1851-1856 Edward D. Martin
    1856-1857 John A. Purnell
    1857-1863 William E. Timmons
    1863-1865 George H. Richardson

    Elected by Voters to 6-year terms (Constitution of 1864, Art. IV, sec. 29):
    1865-1867 George H. Richardson

    Elected by Voters to 6-year terms (Constitution of 1867, Art. IV, sec. 25):
    1867-1886 Irving T. Matthews
    1886-1889 John W. Staton
    1889-1890 John M. Richardson (D)
    1890-1908 Francis Henry Purnell (D)
    1908-1925 Oliver Dale Collins (died 1925)
    1925-1926 Sue M. Collins

    Elected by Voters to 4-year terms (Constitution of 1867, Art. XVII, added by Chapter 227, Acts of 1922, ratified Nov. 7, 1922):
    1926-1939 Bessie Bowen
    1939-1944 Joseph E. Brimer (D) (resigned 1944)
    1944-1953 Charles W. Nelson, Jr.
    1953-1955 E. Wilfred Ross (resigned)
    1955-1958 Frank White Hales (D)

    Elected by Voters to 4-year terms (Constitution of 1867, Art. IV, sec. 25, amended by Chapter 99, Acts of 1956, ratified Nov. 6, 1956):
    1958-1982 Frank White Hales (D)
    1982-1990 Warne C. Littleton
    1990-1998 Richard H. Outten (D)
    1998-2014     Stephen V. Hales (D)
    2014- Susan R. Braniecki (R)

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