ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore has appointed 13 individuals to the District 4 Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission representing Harford County. Rebecca Fleming will lead the commission as chair.

“Our state trial courts are charged with issuing clear judgments, unclouded by fear or favor and rooted in fact, law, and precedent. The Judicial Nominating Commission for Harford County plays a key role in ensuring that those we elevate to the bench will uphold that standard,” Moore said. “I thank these 13 distinguished Marylanders for raising their hands to serve. Their contributions will bring us one step closer to realizing the promise of equal justice under law.”

The commission is responsible for advertising judicial vacancies, seeking recommendations for judicial candidates from its members, bar associations, and the public, setting deadlines for applications, and evaluating applicants based on their integrity, temperament, legal expertise, and professional experience. There are 16 Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commissions in Maryland, all established by executive order.

The following individuals have been appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission for Harford County:

• Rebecca Fleming, Chair
• Wilber W. Bolton
• Jeremy B. Brooks
• Rajiv K. Goel
• Luz Virginia Lopez
• Toi Monique Mason
• Eric E. McLauchlin
• Carlton J. Moss, Jr.
• Kimberly H. Neal

Fleming, a partner at Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders, is a seasoned litigator with experience in family law, personal injury, and insurance defense. She is a certified mediator and served on the State Board of Law Examiners Character Committee. She is a founding member of the Riveters Law Club and an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law, where she teaches family law. Fleming earned a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Wilber W. Bolton, a solo practitioner in Harford County, has a general practice focused on criminal law, child custody, family law, bankruptcy law, and estate planning. Bolton represented the Harford County Department of Social Services for 26 years, handling child welfare matters. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and spent six years as a law clerk for various firms and government agencies. He served on the board of directors of the Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Inc., and has been an active member of the Harford County Bar Association since 1980. Bolton earned a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Jeremy B. Brooks has served as the assistant state’s attorney for Harford County since 2019. Since 2023, he has been assigned to the violent crime unit. Brooks actively participates in the Howard County Bar Association. Brooks earned a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Rajiv K. Goel, the deputy director of the Office of Economic Development for Harford County, worked as an associate with Offit Kurman, P.A. and the Law Office of Weitzel, Nomiki, Bouloubassis in their estates and trust divisions before joining county government. Goel has provided estate planning counsel for business owners, retirees, and families for more than 20 years. Goel graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Luz Virginia Lopez, a retired attorney, previously served as a senior trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. She spent 14 years serving in several U.S. Department of Justice departments, including Civil Rights, Immigrant and Employee Rights, Voting, and Federal Coordination and Compliance. Lopez earned a law degree from Ohio State University Drinko College of Law.

Toi Monique Mason has served as an attorney advisor in the business law division of the Aberdeen Proving Ground Army Materiel Command Legal Center for the past two years. She also served as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Maryland and served as a prosecutor in Harford County and Baltimore City. Mason earned a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Eric E. McLauchlin, a member of Pessin Katz Law, has practiced in Harford County for over 25 years. Before joining Pessin Katz Law, McLauchlin was a partner with Shaffer, McLaughlin & Stover, where he specialized in business law and estate planning. McLauchlin served on the board of directors of the Northeastern Maryland Technology Council and the Harford County Public Library Foundation, Inc. McLauchlin earned a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Carlton J. Moss, Jr. has practiced law in Harford County for the past 20 years, specializing in personal injury law. He serves on the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra board and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Moss also supports the Boy and Girl Scouts. He is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and earned a law degree from the North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Kimberly H. Neal serves as general counsel for Harford County Public Schools.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels