Matt Maciarello appointed circuit court judge by Governor

Governor Larry Hogan has appointed two judges on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, including the now former Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello.  Jonathan Newell was appointed circuit court judge for Caroline County, and Maciarello the same position in Wicomico County.

The Wicomico County seat, which also covers Dorchester County at times, was left vacant in December when Judge Newton Jackson retired. Maciarello in an interview with 47ABC, says Governor Hogan called him Wednesday to inform him of the decision.  Before being appointed, there is an application process.  After applying, the candidates meet with a nominating committee. The candidates are then vetted by the committee, who then sends a short list to the Governor.  The Governor goes on to conduct interviews from there.

Maciarello says it’s an honor to serve his hometown court. “I’m elated” he tells 47ABC, and speaking about his conversation with Governor Hogan says “it was a solemn call, because I mean I take this seriously.”

The appointment takes effect immediately.  Which means Maciarello’s position at the State’s Attorney’s Office is now vacant.  Maciarello says he expects a new State’s Attorney to be appointed soon, which he says will remain in effect until the next election.  Although it’s still up in the air on who will fill his spot, he says there is an “awesome” team that is still in that office, adding that they did “all the heavy lifting” on the over 5,000 cases a year his former office took on.

Now, Maciarello is looking forward to transitioning from his role as a prosecutor to judge, and says “I definitely realize that there is a lot of effort that you have to put into it” and cites his transition from civil practitioner defense attorney, to prosecutor as a benchmark for his road ahead. Maciarello says his new colleagues have already began to reach out to him to offer advice, and he looks forward to building a reputation as a fair and impartial judge.