Judge Karla N. Smith Named New Administrative Judge for Montgomery County Circuit Court

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Supreme Court of Maryland Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader has appointed Judge Karla N. Smith as the next administrative judge for the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, marking a significant leadership transition in one of Maryland’s busiest judicial jurisdictions.

Judge Smith will assume the role on March 14, 2026, following the retirement of current Circuit and County Administrative Judge James A. Bonifant.

A Key Leadership Role in Maryland’s Courts

As administrative judge, Smith will oversee court administration, budgeting, procurement, and trial-calendar management — responsibilities central to ensuring cases move efficiently through the system. Montgomery County’s courthouse is among the largest in the state, making the position both high-profile and influential.

Chief Justice Fader praised both judges in announcing the appointment.

“I congratulate Judge Bonifant on his forthcoming retirement and thank him for his leadership,” Fader said. “Judge Smith is an accomplished jurist and leader in Montgomery County. Her work on the bench and in this new role will continue to ensure fair, efficient, and effective justice for all.”

A Judicial Career Rooted in Public Safety and Community Leadership

Judge Smith first joined the bench in 2012, when former Gov. Martin O’Malley appointed her to the District Court in Montgomery County. She moved to the Circuit Court in 2015, where she has served in multiple leadership capacities, including:

• Presiding Judge, Adult Drug Court (since 2021)
• Chair, Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (2014–2017)
• Member, Judiciary Public Awareness Committee (2013–2015)

Smith said she was “honored” to continue serving the county in an expanded capacity.

“The court has a long, proud history of diligently serving the citizens of Montgomery County,” she said. “We will continue to honor that legacy by ensuring all county residents have efficient and equitable access to justice.”

National Leadership on Military Sexual Assault Reform

In March 2022, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin appointed Smith to chair the Defense Advisory Committee on the Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces (DAC-IPAD). The congressional committee is charged with improving fairness and transparency in military justice procedures involving sexual assault. She served until the committee’s operations were suspended in March 2025.

A Career in Prosecution Prior to the Bench

Before her judicial appointments, Smith spent more than 15 years as a prosecutor:

• Assistant State’s Attorney in Montgomery County (1996–1997)
• Assistant State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County (1997–2000)
• Chief of the Montgomery County Family Violence Division (2007–2012)

She also held seats on several statewide bodies focused on child protection, family violence, and sexual-offense policy, including:

• Governor’s Family Violence Council
• Sexual Offender Advisory Board
• Children’s Justice Act Committee

Her long-running involvement in domestic-violence policy continues today as the Circuit Court’s representative to the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.

Education, Honors, and Professional Affiliations

Smith earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland (1991) and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law (1995). She is a member of both the Maryland and D.C. Bars.

Her professional affiliations include the Maryland State Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, and the American Inn of Court.

Throughout her career, she has received major recognitions, including:

• Marilyn J. Praisner Founder’s Award (2015)
• Mary Hatwood Futrell Award, National Education Association (2015)
• Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Daily Record (2019)

She has also taught as an adjunct professor at American University and the University of Maryland at Shady Grove.