The appointments of City Attorney Shaem Spencer, Assistant State's Attorney Eileen Reilly and H. Richard "Dick" Duden III, a senior litigator at Hyatt and Weber in Annapolis, follows an extended and contentious nominating process that saw three members of the county's Judicial Nominating Commission resign.

The commissioners complained they'd lost faith in the fairness and impartiality of the process after a majority of the 13-member commission voted to nominate Thomas V. Miller III, the son of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.

In the end, Mr. O'Malley did not appoint Mr. Miller to the bench and the final appointments are being well received.

"Excellent choices. ... Everybody is happy with the appointments, especially given the controversy surrounding the (nominations)," said Jonathan P. Kagan, president of the Anne Arundel Bar Association.

"I think the governor did a fantastic job," said Peter S. O'Neill, a Glen Burnie defense attorney who also sits on the county's Judicial Nominating Commission.

In all, Mr. O'Malley yesterday named one Court of Appeals judge, two Court of Special Appeals judges, two Circuit Court judges and eight District Court Judges across the state.

District Court judges are appointed to 10-year terms and there are no elections to confirm them.

"I am proud to appoint this talented and diverse group of judges to serve on our state's trial courts," Mr. O'Malley said in a prepared statement. "As most of our neighbors' only experience with the justice system is with our district and circuit courts, it is vital that our judges treat people evenhandedly and with respect. Each appointee brings a diversity of experience but have in common integrity, strong legal backgrounds and the ability to treat people fairly."

Mr. Spencer, Ms. Reilly and Mr. Duden will fill the slots left vacant by the appointment of Judge J. Michael Wachs to the Circuit Court bench and the retirements of Judge James "Jack" Dryden and Judge Vincent A. Mulieri. Judge Wachs took his post in December, Judge Dryden retired in July 2007 and Judge Mulieri retired in June 2007.

"We'll certainly be happy to have nine sitting judges again," said Administrative District Court Judge John P. McKenna Jr., commending the governor for his appointments.

He said the three new judges will spend the next month meeting with different groups and organizations - the state's Division of Parole and Probation, the county's detention center, the district court clerk's office - and shadowing sitting judges before they start work at the Glen Burnie District Courthouse.

"Within four to six weeks they will be sitting on their own with their own dockets," Judge McKenna said, noting it shouldn't be too hard for them to learn the ropes because they all have spent time in district courtrooms. "They are all experienced and ... I think they will be good judges."

The judges

Each judge comes to the bench with his or her own personality and skills.

Mr. Kagan noted Mr. Spencer's mild-mannered nature and ability to jump from one legal argument to another.

"As city attorney he has faced so many different issues on a daily basis," he said. "He is a quick study."

At the same time, he noted Mr. Duden's sense of humor.

"I look forward to sitting in his courtroom on traffic days just to see how he handles things," he said.

Dave Fischer, a Republican defense attorney who ran for State's Attorney in 2006, noted Ms. Reilly grounded approach to the law.

"She has a great legal mind, but she also understands people," said Mr. Fisher, a frequent adversary of Ms. Reilly in the courtroom. "The district court is the people's court. It deals with the everyday people."

District Public Defender William Davis also praised Ms. Reilly's appointment.

"She's seeking justice. She's not just looking for a conviction," he said.

Mr. O'Neill described the three new judges as "compassionate," "humble" and "hard working." He said they were some of the county's finest lawyers.

"They are good people who listen and are respectable of the parties," said Mr. Kagan. "The bar and public should be happy to have them."

Mr. Spencer and Ms. Reilly were unavailable for comment. Mr. Duden, 52, of Annapolis, said he is looking forward to the challenge.

"It will be different, there is no doubt about it," said Mr. Duden, 52, of Annapolis. "I am honored."

Controversy

The nominations end a controversial couple of months for the Anne Arundel Judicial Nominating Commission, which had three of its 13 members resign during the selection process. Annapolis lawyer Paula J. Peters said in May she resigned specifically because of political pressure to nominate Mr. Miller.

The commission originally sent five names to the governor in February, but Mr. O'Malley sent the list back and asked for at least nine - three names per vacant seat. Mr. Miller was one of the names included in the second round of nominees. Rumors swirled through Annapolis that the list was sent back just for Mr. Miller's name, although the senate president and the Governor's Office denied any collusion took place.

Two other lawyers - Eileen E. Powers and Marysabel Rodriguez-Nanney - joined in Ms. Peters' resignation letter to the governor, but neither specifically mentioned Mr. Miller as the cause of their disenchantment. Their resignation letter described the situation as too political and alleged some of the approved candidates were not qualified.

"The result has shaken our confidence in the system," the letter said. "It has adversely affected the respect of the bench and bar for the judicial appointment process. We believe it will undermine whatever faith the public may have in the way judges are selected in this state."

Mr. Spencer, Ms. Reilly and Mr. Duden's names were included on the first list, along with John Gunning and Ronald Jarashow. The second round included Mr. Miller, John Gardner, Anne Leitess, Michael Pappafotis and Kathleen Rogers.

The three commissioners who resigned were unavailable for comment yesterday and this morning.

Mr. Miller didn't return calls seeking comment yesterday.

Mr. Duden believes that after the public sees him and the other two new judges on the bench they will realize Mr. O'Malley picked well.

"The storm has kind of subsided," said Mr. Duden.