Who IS Judge Mitchell?

Although Judge Mitchell, who was acting by special appointment to the Wicomico County Court, recently ruled against the FOP in the suit by the County government challenging the effect of the collective bargaining with binding arbitration "referendum" (actually, it was an "initiative") in 2006, local folks may not recognize his name. Judge Mitchell, a native of New York City, I understand, relocated to the Lower Shore after retiring from a lengthy career in Baltimore City, mostly as a trial judge, criminal prosecutor or public defender.

Here is his biography in the "Maryland Manual" --
DAVID B. MITCHELL, Associate Judge, Baltimore City Circuit Court, 8th Judicial Circuit, from 1984 to December 14, 2001 (Administrative Judge, Juvenile Court, 1984-95). Retired December 14, 2001. Judge in Charge of Juvenile Docket, 1984-95. Judge in Charge of Criminal Docket, 1999-2001. Chair, Committee on Juvenile and Family Law and Procedure, 1986-88, and Criminal Law and Procedure Committee, 1999-2000, Maryland Judicial Conference.

Assistant Chief, Case Preparation Unit, State's Attorney's Office, Baltimore City, 1972-73. Assistant Public Defender, Baltimore City, 1973. Board of Directors, Federal Pretrial-Release Program, 1975-84. Board of Advisors, Paralegal Program, Dundalk Community College. Member, Attorney Grievance Commission, 1979-83; Character Committee, 8th Judicial Circuit, 1979-84; Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, 1983-84; Maryland Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, 1985-89; Family Violence Council, 1995-. Chair, Public Defender Regional Advisory Board no. 1 (Baltimore City, Baltimore County & Harford County), 1999-2001. Born in Bronx, New York, May 25, 1945. Attended The Peddie School, Hightstown, New Jersey; Fisk University, B.A., 1967; Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 1970. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1970. Member, National Bar Association (committees on professional ethics & commercial law); Maryland State Bar Association (council of juvenile & family law; committees on professional responsibility & fee disputes); Monumental City Bar Association (past vice-president; chair, judicial selections committee); National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (chair, metropolitan court judges committee, 1988-89; board of trustees, 1988). Associate, Brown, Allen & Josey, 1970-72. Founding partner, Mitchell & Lee, 1973-84. Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2001-. Lecturer and faculty, National College of Juvenile and Family Law. Past member, Board of Trustees, Visiting Nurse Association of Baltimore, Inc.; American Society of Hospital Attorneys. Chair, Board of Trustees, Associated Marine Institutes. President, Board of Trustees, The Peddie School; Fort Smallwood Marine Institutes, Inc. President, Baltimore Fisk Club. Member, Inter-Alumni Council of Maryland; Intergovernmental Relations Committee, United Way of Central Maryland. Lawrence S. Greenbaum Prize for Appellate Advocacy, Columbia University School of Law. Maryland Leadership in Law Award, Daily Record, 2001. Member, Church of the Holy Trinity.