Education
- 2024 Northwestern University Law School, Chicago Illinois, Family Law Mediation Certification
- 1987 University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland, Juris Doctor
- 1980 Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Bachelor of Arts
Judicial Experience
- Judge, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County 2007-2024
- Judge, District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County 2000-2007
- Master in Chancery – Family Law 1998-2000
- Six years overseeing the Court’s Family Law Division (Family Law DCM Judge)
- Chief Judge Fifth Judicial Circuit (Anne Arundel, Howard, and Carroll Counties) 2022- 2024
- Presided over hundreds of complex family law cases with a special focus on conducting successful pre-trial conferences
- Presided over hundreds of personal injury cases
- New Trial Judge Orientation Coordinator State of Maryland. Responsible for 8-day annual training/orientation program for all newly appointed/elected trial court judges
- Served at various times as Court’s Family Law Case Management Judge, Criminal Case Management Judge, Civil Judge, Juvenile Judge, and Drug Court Judge
- Judicial Mentor
Prior to Taking the Bench
- Assistant Public Defender 1987-1991
- Partner, North & Wachs, P.A. 1991-1994
- Sole Practitioner, J. Michael Wachs, P.A. 1994-1998
Additional Professional Activities
- Former President and Trustee, Anne Arundel County Bar Association
- Former Trustee, Anne Arundel County Bar Foundation
- Anne Arundel County Bar Association 1988-Present
- Recipient Anne Arundel County Bar Association President’s Award
- Regular Lecturer, Maryland Judicial Education Programs on a multitude of topics
- Presenter, Annual Statewide Maryland Judicial Conference
- Presenter, Maryland Association of Justice
- Presenter, Anne Arundel County Bar Association Legal Education Programs
- Adjunct Professor, Anne Arundel Community College
- Lecturer, Towson University
- Schools in the Court Program Coordinator
- Maryland Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council Member
- Mock Trial Coach