TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Friday made the following personnel announcements:

• Current Managing Administrative Law Judge Paul M. Mayhew has announced plans to retire after over 30 years as an Administrative Law Judge and trial lawyer — including over 25 years of service with Baltimore County.
• Upon his retirement, sitting Administrative Law Judge Maureen E. Murphy will be named Managing Administrative Law Judge.
• Derek Baumgardner has been nominated to serve as an Administrative Law Judge.
• Andrew Belt has been nominated to serve as an Administrative Law Judge.

“On behalf of the people of Baltimore County, we thank Judge Mayhew for his many years of dedicated service to supporting our residents and communities and wish him the best in a well-deserved retirement,” Olszewski said. “I am honored to name these talented, respected, and qualified individuals to serve the people of Baltimore County. Under the leadership of Judge Murphy, I am confident the office will continue to provide expeditious, transparent, and fair opinions for years to come.”

Maureen E. Murphy has served as an Administrative Law Judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings since 2010. From 2007 to 2020, she served as a member on the Board of Appeals in the capacity as both Chair of the Board of Appeals, and as Panel Chair for cases brought before it. Previously, Murphy maintained the private law practice of Murphy & Murphy, LLC with her father, John V. Murphy, III. She has also previously served on the Baltimore County Planning Board. Judge Murphy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University of Maryland, as Master of Science in Real Estate Development degree from The Johns Hopkins University, and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Baltimore School of Law.

Derek Baumgardner is currently a land use, real estate, and environmental attorney with the law firm of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP. Prior to Whiteford, he served as a Hearing Examiner for the Montgomery County Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings, and was previously an agency head and general counsel in Baltimore City government. He also has experience in business law, civil litigation, transactional law and trusts and estates. He clerked for The Honorable Brian D. Shockley, Circuit Court for Worcester County, MD, and for the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland. Mr. Baumgardner is a graduate of Loyola University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Andrew Belt began his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore County and spent over 20 years as a solo practitioner, litigating both criminal and civil litigation matters before judges and juries. In addition to his litigation practice, for the past 15 years, he has been a member of the Baltimore County Board of Appeals, where he adjudicates zoning and development cases. Mr. Belt is a former Baltimore County history teacher as well a former adjunct professor at Towson University. He has also been a guest lecturer at the Baltimore County Police Academy. Mr. Belt is a graduate of Towson University and the University of Baltimore School of Law.

The Office of Administrative Hearings is responsible for:

• Ruling on zoning and development cases, including variance, special exception, nonconforming use and “special hearing” cases;
• Conducting public hearings;
• Granting approvals or denials on proposed development plans and Planned Unit Developments (PUDs);
• Conducting hearings and ruling on code enforcement violation cases, environmental violations, County employee grievances and other matters which from time to time are referred to the Office of
• Administrative Hearings by County Government; and
• Serving as Chair on trial boards responsible for adjudicating matters where a police officer is subject to discipline.

In his FY2024 budget, Olszewski expanded the Office of Administrative Hearings to create a third Administrative Law Judge position to support the office’s efforts to quickly and expeditiously hear cases.

The appointments announced this week will be subject to confirmation by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Baltimore County Council.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels