The Maryland Court of Appeals has imposed a six-month suspension of Baltimore District Court Judge Devy Patterson Russell citing a “pattern of discourtesy” and “uncontrollable incivility.” The ruling of Maryland’s highest court dictates that Russell’s suspension will be without pay. Maryland district judges currently earn $146,333 annually.
The ruling follows a 26-page report filed by the Commission on Judicial Disabilities filed in December which reported in detail on many instances of wrongdoing on the part of Russell. The commission stated, “The comments and behaviors of Judge Russell were undignified, uncooperative, discourteous, demeaning, and clearly demonstrate a pattern of serious violations of the Maryland Code.”
Russell, 53, has served as a district judge in Baltimore since her appointment in 2006. She previously served as assistant attorney general for the State of Maryland. The commission report includes several witness accounts of aggressive and erratic behavior by Russell, including an account from fellow judge William Dunn who said of a specific instance in which Russell screamed at him upon his return from lunch. The report describes the incident saying, “She raised her voice, yelling and screaming at him in front of lawyers, bailiffs and other judges about his departure from the courthouse as duty judge.”
Administrative Judge Barbara Wexman described Russell as “openly hostile at times, rude, intimidating, taking joy when other judges would have negative things said about them in the press.” The commission’s report details similar accounts of Russell’s behavior over a period between 2007 and 2015 that includes an instance of physically pushing a staffer and years worth of search warrant paperwork being neglected and mishandled.
Russell is also being investigated for an instance relating to the denial of a request for a peace order from a Glen Burnie resident who was later murdered by the person he had feared. Judge Russell claimed that the request didn’t contain the proper “burden of proof” to go forward.
The contentious judge also attempted to smear the name of Judge Katie O’Malley, wife of former Maryland Gov. Marin O’Malley, claiming that she repeatedly used profanity in court proceedings. Review of audio recordings of the cited incidents revealed O’Malley was in fact quoting statement that included profanity and Russel’s concerns were dismissed. However, the judge persisted in her complaints about O’Malley. A hearing on these incidents is expected in August.
In an official statement on their ruling to enforce the suspension, the Court of Appeals stated that Russell “exhibited a pattern of divisive, combative, and volatile interpersonal issues…Her conduct is unbecoming of a member of the judiciary, and it fails to maintain the demeanor that our rules require of judges.”
