PRINCE FREDERICK, MD - Calvert County resident Edward Gregory “Greg” Wells was one of eight individuals named by Gov. Martin O’Malley [D] late last week as district court judges. For Wells, the appointment fulfills a long sought after seat on the bench.
“I’m very pleased the governor selected me,” said Wells, who has been serving in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office since early last year. “I hope I can fill the shoes of Judge Stephen Clagett.”
Clagett’s retirement earlier this year created a vacancy in the court. Wells was one of six candidates who applied. A panel comprised of 13 Southern Maryland citizens, one of Maryland’s Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commissions, winnowed the list down to four this past April.
In addition to Wells, Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Renee Saunders, and attorneys Mark Stephen Chandlee and Robert Henry Harvey Jr. were interviewed by O’Malley prior to the appointment.
Wells spent 10 years in the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office, serving three years as deputy state’s attorney. He then served seven years as Calvert’s master for domestic relations and juvenile cases.
In December 2005, Wells was named interim state’s attorney by Calvert’s two circuit court judges after then-Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. appointed incumbent state’s attorney and fellow Republican Robert B. Riddle to the district court bench. Wells had also applied for the court vacancy.
The following November, Wells, a Democrat, lost a contentious race with current Calvert County State’s Attorney Laura L. Martin [R]. Several weeks after leaving the state’s attorney’s office, Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler [D] tapped Wells as the assistant attorney general in the office’s Criminal Appeals Division.
For the past 18 months, Wells has commuted to Baltimore, severely curtailing his many civic activities.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to Calvert County,” said Wells.
His elevation to the bench also takes Wells out of the political arena, a situation about which he seemed relieved. “I’m out of politics,” he said. “I can participate with charitable groups. I can’t raise money for anyone [charities or candidates].”
Wells indicated the date and other details of his swearing-in ceremony have yet to be determined. He will also have a lengthy orientation at one of the state’s judicial training centers.
The prospect of again working with Riddle, who was appointed the Maryland Fourth District Court’s administrative judge shortly after Clagett’s retirement, also has Wells enthused. “I’m very much looking forward to working with Bob,” he said. “He’s a great mentor.”
The Calvert Independent
