Gordon Arthur Lynn, Hagerstown attorney and candidate for Washington County State's Attorney in 2006, died Monday September 10, 2007. Many have asked what they can do to assist the family of Gordy Lynn during this time of loss. Contributions may be made to the Lynn Family Fund which will assist with immediate family expenses. John Salvatore has offered to be the central collection point and will forward the contributions to the family. Checks may be made payable to Lynn Family Fund/John R. Salvatore Trust Account and sent to Law Office of John R. Salvatore, 82 West Washington Street, Suite 200, Hagerstown, MD 21740. For questions, call John at 301-739-3600.

Free Child's Council Training Programby AOC Guidelines of Practice
The Family Administration / Administrative Office of the Courts has requested distribution to all attorneys on our Court's panel of children's counsel of the following brochure: Representing Children in Contested Custody Cases in Maryland: The Guidelines of Practice for Court-Appointed Lawyers Representing Children in Cases Involving Child Custody or Child Access. This training program under the new guidelines is aimed at all prospective attorneys for the Circuit Court's panel of children's attorneys, as well as all attorneys already on the panel who had previously taken the training prior to the establishment of the Guidelines of Practice. The WCBA should be advised that this training is only for those attorneys who agree to serve on the Circuit Court's panel of children's attorneys and is not just for attorney continuing education hours.  Anyone agreeing to serve on our panel must take the child counsel training.  Please call Patti Witmer, Family Services coordinator with any questions at 240-313-2580 or via email to Patricia.Witmer@mdcourts.gov. Registrations are limited, so please register as soon as possible.

Judge James F. Strine, 81, passed away Nov. 9, 2007. A 1943 graduate of Hagerstown High School, Judge Strine attended Norwich University in Northfield, Vt. and later graduated from the University of Maryland Law School with a J.D. in 1950. He passed the Maryland bar exam with the third-highest score in the State and was awarded a scholarship to the Baltimore City Legal Aid Bureau. During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy on a mariner patrol bomber. In 1951 Judge Strine joined the Hagerstown law firm of Lane, Bushong & Byron, and began his own solo law practice in 1958. He was elected State's Attorney for Washington County in 1959 and was later appointed trial magistrate for two terms. Judge Strine served as county attorney for seven years and attorney for the town of Funkstown for 12 years. During this tenure, he drafted the first zoning ordinance for Washington County. Judge Strine served on the District Court of Maryland for more than 13 years and retired as Associate Judge in 1995.

Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission Court of Special Appeals of Maryland (Third Appellate Circuit): The Honorable J. Frederick Sharer will retire effective April 12, 2008, thereby creating a vacancy on the Court of Special Appeals for the Third Appellate Circuit (Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard and Washington Counties). This vacancy is to be filled by appointment of Governor O'Malley. Any judge or lawyer interested in appointment to this vacancy should request a Personal data questionnaire from Deborah A. Unitus or Linda Etzold, Administrative Office of the Courts, Maryland Judicial Center, 580 Taylor Avenue, A-2, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401, tel: (410) 260-1291, Maryland Relay Service (TTY Voice) 1-800-7352258. The personal data questionnaire is also available as a downloadable document on the judiciary's website at www.mdcourts.gov. Any applicant who reapplies to a commission with whom they have filed a personal data questionnaire within the past twenty-four months need not file a new questionnaire. The candidate may submit a letter stating that he or she is reapplying and submit any changes that have occurred since the submission of the earlier questionnaire. The completed personal data questionnaire and five writing samples (at least 20 copies - see questionnaire as to additional copies) must be received by Deborah A. Unitus or Linda Etzold in the Administrative Office of the Courts by the close of business at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 17, 2008. Late applications will not be accepted.