Judge of the Circuit Court in Judicial Circuit 6, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Julia Ann Minner — Judge of the Circuit Court in Judicial Circuit 6, Maryland

  Julia Ann Minner is a Judicial candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court in Maryland's Judicial Circuit 6. After earning a bachelor's degree from Frostburg State University and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law, she began a career in criminal defense. She spent four years as an assistant public defender in Frederick County and worked in private practice. Minner then served as a family law magistrate in Frederick County for 24 years, handling domestic and juvenile cases. In January 2024, Governor Wes Moore appointed Minner to the Frederick County Circuit Court, and she is now seeking election to retain her seat.

• Sharon V. Burrell — Judge of the Circuit Court in Judicial Circuit 6, Maryland

  Sharon V. Burrell is a Judicial candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court in Maryland's Judicial Circuit 6. Born in Washington, D.C., she earned her bachelor's degree from Barnard College in 1979 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1982. Burrell started her career as a law clerk for Judge Harry A. Cole on the Maryland Court of Appeals. After time in private practice, she served as an Associate County Attorney for Montgomery County for 21 years. In 2008, she was appointed to the Sixth Circuit Court, becoming the first African American female judge in Montgomery County. Burrell was elected to a 15-year term on the court in 2010.

• Victor M. Del Pino — Judge of the Circuit Court in Judicial Circuit 6, Maryland

  Victor M. Del Pino is a Judicial party candidate running for Judge of the Circuit Court in Maryland's Judicial Circuit 6, serving Montgomery County. He earned his B.A. from Virginia Wesleyan College and his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Del Pino began his career as an Assistant State's Attorney in Montgomery County, becoming the first Latino to lead its Gang Prosecution Unit. He spent nearly a decade in private practice as a partner at McGann, Del Pino, and Hughes, LLC. In 2019, he was appointed as an Associate Judge for the District Court of Maryland. He serves on local school and nonprofit boards.

• James J. Dietrich — Judge of the Circuit Court in Judicial Circuit 6, Maryland

  James J. Dietrich is a Judicial candidate running for Judge of the Circuit Court in Maryland's 6th Judicial Circuit for Montgomery County. Appointed as an Associate Judge by Governor Wes Moore in October 2025, he brings extensive legal experience to the court. Before his appointment, Dietrich was an Assistant State's Attorney in Montgomery County from 2018 to 2025, managing complex cases in the major crimes unit. He also served in the Howard County State's Attorney's Office from 1997 to 2018 as a trial team leader. He earned his J.D. from the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law, where he is now an adjunct professor.

• Catherine H. McQueen — Judge of the Circuit Court in Judicial Circuit 6, Maryland

  Catherine Huger McQueen is an Associate Judge for the Montgomery County Circuit Court in the 6th Judicial Circuit, appointed by Governor Wes Moore in 2024. With over 22 years of legal experience, she was previously a principal attorney at Offit Kurman, specializing in family law. Her practice focused on guardianship and conservatorship cases for both children and adults. Prior to that, she was an attorney at Selzer, Gurvitch, Rabin & Obecny LLC. McQueen earned her B.A. from Clemson University and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2001.

• Marylin Pierre — Judge of the Circuit Court in Judicial Circuit 6, Maryland

  Marylin Pierre is an attorney running for Judge of the Circuit Court in Maryland's Judicial Circuit 6. A Haitian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1975, Pierre earned her law degree from Howard University School of Law. She is a retired First Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve, having served in the Military Police Corps. For over three decades, she has practiced law in Montgomery County. Pierre is a former president of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association and previously chaired the Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission. She is running in the Judicial party contest.