The Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, in conjunction with the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, invite you to the Twelfth Biennial Bench-Bar Conference on October 12, 2023, in the Northern Division Courthouse, 101 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD.  The conference will commence promptly at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a reception.  The program's agenda is included below.

There is no charge for attending the conference; however, reservations are requested.  Please reserve your spot through our website. 

3:30 - 4:00      Registration

4:00 - 4:05      Welcome

                             Margaret Fonshell Ward

                             Downs Ward Bender Herzog & Kintigh, P.A.

4:05 - 4:30      Nuts and Bolts with the Clerk of Court

                             Moderator:        Jamar Brown

                             Panel:                 Catherine Stavlas

                                                        David Ciambruschini

                                                        Camille Powell

4:30 – 4:55      State of the Court Address

                             Honorable James K. Bredar, Chief Judge

 4:55 – 5:05      Presentation of Exceptional Service Awards

                           Presented by:     Honorable James K. Bredar

                                                       Honorable George L. Russell, III

                             Recipients:          Dr. Jonathan Zenilman

                                                           Ava Lias-Booker

                                                           Kobie Flowers

                                                           Robert Hur

                                                           David Kinkopf

                                                           Teresa Whalen

                                                           Linda Woolf

                                                           Ben Yhim

                                                           Amy Collier

                                                           Gregory Simmons

5:15 – 6:00      Break Out Discussions

Practice pointers from the members of the bench, including what they find effective and what they ask practitioners to avoid.

          Courtroom 5A    Civil Discovery

                             Moderators:    Megan Micco & Mark Saudek

                             Participants:    Honorable Deborah K. Chasanow         

                                                     Honorable Ajmel A. Quereshi

          Courtroom 5B   Criminal Discovery

                              Moderators:   Katherine Newberger & Darryle Tarver

                              Participants:   Honorable Deborah L. Boardman

                                                     Honorable Brendan A. Hurson

          Courtroom 5C    Civil Mediation

                             Moderators:   Imran Shaukat

                             Participants:   Honorable J. Mark Coulson

                                                    Honorable Gina L. Simms

             Courtroom 5D   Persuasive Arguments at Sentencing

                             Moderators:   Patricia Richman, Julie Stelzig

                             Participants:   Honorable Richard D. Bennett

                                                    Honorable Julie R. Rubin

6:00 – 7:30     Reception

                             1st Floor Atrium