Tenure

First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, 2002. Member of the House since 2003.

Current Assignments

2019 Vice Chair, Economic Matters Committee

2019 Chair, Property and Casualty Insurance Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee

2019 Workers' Compensation Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee

2019 House Chair, Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics (Member 2019)

2019 Legislative Policy Committee

2007- House Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations

2021 House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup

2019 House Chair, Marijuana Legalization Work Group

2003- House Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse

2005 Maryland Veterans Caucus

2003- Women Legislators of Maryland

Past House Service

Majority Leader, 2019; Economic Matters Committee, 2019; Vice Chair, Judiciary Committee, 2011-2019; Chair, Punitive Damages Workgroup, 2016-2017; Spending Affordability, 2019; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2013-2014; Special Joint Commission on Public Safety and Security in State and Local Correctional Facilities, 2013; 2019 Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2011-2016; Parliamentarian, 2007-2010; Chair, Family Law Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 2007-2010; Family Law Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 2003-2010; Estates and Trusts Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 2003-2006; Juvenile Services Workgroup of the Judiciary Committee, 2005.

Public Service

Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, 2019-; Task Force to Study Erroneous Conviction and Imprisonment, 2017-2018; Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board, 2016-; Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council, 2015-2016; Task Force to Study Sports Injuries in High School Female Athletes, 2014-2016; Commission on Child Custody Decision Making, 2013-2014; Task Force to Study Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland, 2013-2014; Maryland Medical Marijuana Model Program Workgroup, 2011-2012; Maryland Alcohol Safety Action Program Committee, 2010; Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2008-2014; Task Force to Combat Driving under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol, 2007-2008; Foster Care Court-Improvement Implementation Committee, 2007-2012; Legislative Committee, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2006; Redistricting and Elections Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2005-; Task Force on Missing Vulnerable Adults, 2004-2005; Legislative Representative, Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee, Montgomery County, 2004-; Member, Montgomery County Delegation (Bi-county Committee, 2007; Chair, 2007; Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Matters, 2007-08), 2003-; Montgomery County Delegation (Chair, Bi-county Agency committee, 2008-2010; Member, Metro Washington Area Committee, 2015 -), 2003-.

Memberships

Vice President, Board of Directors, St. Vincent Pallotti High School, Laurel, 1998-2009; Board of Directors, Montgomery County Bar Foundation (Treasurer, 1998-99), 1998-2006; Maryland Green Caucus, 2003-; Board of Trustees, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2003-; Citizenship for Law-Related Education Program, 2003-; Barrister, Montgomery County Chapter, American Inn of Court, 1999-2002, 1993-1996; Executive Committee, Women's Bar Association of Maryland, 1995-2002; Alan J. Goldstein Chapter, American Inn of Court, 1997-2000; Fellow, Maryland Bar Foundation, 1999-; Board of Directors, Summer Ridge Condominiums, 1991-1999; Pupil, Montgomery County Chapter, American Inn of Court, 1990-1992; Maryland State Bar Association (Family and Juvenile Law Section); District of Columbia Bar Association; Montgomery County Bar Association (Treasurer, 1997-98; Co-Chair, Family Law Section, 1997-98; Co-Chair, New Practitioners' Section, 1990-92); Women's Bar Association of Maryland (Executive Committee, 1995-2002; President, Montgomery County Chapter, 1999-2002); District 15 Democratic Club; Women's Suburban Democratic Club.

Awards

Legislative Champion Award, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2018; Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award, Maryland Legal Services Corporation, 2017; The Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Founder's Award, House of Delegates, 2014; Legislator of the Year Award, Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2011; Champion for Children, Department of Human Resources and Maryland State Bar Association, 2010; Beverly A. Groner Family Law Award, Family and Juvenile Law Section, Maryland State Bar Association, 2010; Rita C. Davidson Award, Women's Bar Association of Maryland, 2010; Dorothy Beatty Memorial Award, The Women's Law Center of Maryland, 2010; Top Fifty Women Lawyers, D.C. Magazine, 2010; Top Twenty-Five Women Lawyers, Baltimore and Law & Politics Magazines, 2010, 2009, 2008; Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, Circle of Excellence, 2009, 2007, 2005; Legislative Policy Award, Maryland Chapter, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 2009; Legislative Policy Award, Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women, 2008; Recognized, One of the Top Fifty Divorce Lawyers in Metropolitan Area, Washingtonian Magazine, 2004, 2000; Recognized for Outstanding Pro Bono Services, Catholic Charities Legal Services Network, 2004, 2001.

Biographical Information

Born, La Jolla, California, July 5, 1958; St. Vincent Pallotti High School, Laurel, Maryland, 1976; Mount Vernon College, Washington, D.C., B.A., Public Affairs and Government, Communications, cum laude, 1980; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1983; High School Teacher, U.S. History and Government, St. Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, Maryland, 1986-87; Acting Administrative Assistant, Office of Superintendent, Montgomery County Public Schools, 1987-88; Assistant to Dean, Graduate School, University of Maryland University College, 1988-89; U.S. District Court for District of Maryland, 1990; Attorney: Quinn, McAuliffe & Dumais, 1989-96; Attorney: Principal, Litigation Practice Group of Paley, Rothman, Goldstein, Rosenberg & Cooper, Bethesda, MD 1996-2011; Senior Counsel, Ethridge, Quinn, Kemp, McAuliffe, Rowan & Hartinger, 2011-present.