Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Demetria Marshall — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico, Maryland

  Demetria Marshall, also known as Demetria Marshall-Leonard, is a political leader in Wicomico County, Maryland. She currently serves as the Chair of the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee, a role focused on organizing local party affairs and supporting Democratic candidates across the jurisdiction. Her current term on the committee extends through 2026. In the 2026 election cycle, Marshall filed to run as a Democratic candidate for Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico County. Simultaneously, she is seeking re-election to the Democratic Central Committee to continue advancing her party's local community outreach and platforms.

• Melissa Pollitt Bright — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico, Maryland

  Melissa Pollitt Bright is a Democratic candidate for Judge of the Wicomico County Orphans' Court in Maryland. She initially joined the court as a judge in 1994 and became Chief Judge in March 2019. Throughout her extensive tenure, Bright has been an active participant in the state's legal community. She has served as a member and past president of the Maryland Association of the Judges of the Orphans' Courts. She has also been involved with the Conference of Orphans' Court Judges and the National College of Probate Judges. In 2023, Bright was honored with the Paul S. Sarbanes Award by the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee.

• Michael A. Hammond, Sr. — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico, Maryland

  Michael A. Hammond, Sr. is a Democratic candidate running for Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico County, MD. Hammond is an experienced leader who currently serves on the City Council for Fruitland, a municipality in Wicomico County, with a term running through 2026. Building on this background in local government administration, he is seeking to transition to a judicial role. During the 2026 election cycle, Hammond advanced through the Democratic primary, running unopposed for one of the three available seats on the court. He remains dedicated to public service and aims to represent the citizens of Wicomico County.

• Jim Jester — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico, Maryland

  Jim Jester is a political figure and resident of Salisbury, Maryland, who is active in local government matters. As a member of the Republican Party, Jester ran for election to serve as a Judge of the Orphans' Court of Wicomico County. He competed in the Republican primary election held on July 19, 2022, where he successfully advanced to the general election. On November 8, 2022, he appeared on the general election ballot alongside both Democratic and Republican challengers for the judicial position. Jester has also been involved with the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee and has publicly engaged with the county council regarding local schools.

• John Sharpe — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico, Maryland

  John Sharpe is a Republican candidate running for Judge of the Orphans' Court in Wicomico County, Maryland. Sharpe currently serves on the three-judge panel of the Wicomico County Orphans' Court, having been appointed to fill the vacancy left by the passing of former Judge Grover Cantwell. In his capacity as a judge, Sharpe works alongside Chief Judge Melissa Bright to supervise the management of estates for deceased individuals, ensuring the proper legal handling of wills and probate matters. He is dedicated to providing compassionate and fair service to the residents of Wicomico County during difficult times, and he is now seeking election to continue his important judicial duties.