Tenure

Elected to the Maryland Senate in November 2022. Member of the Senate since January 11, 2023. Member of the Maryland House of Delegates, 1999 to 2015 representing District 34A.

Current Assignments

2023 Judicial Proceedings

2023 Executive Nominations Committee

2023 Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds

2023 Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families

2023 Women Legislators of Maryland

Past House Service 1999-2015

Appropriations Committee, 1999-2015; Chair, Health and Human Resources Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2007-2015; Oversight Committee on Pensions of the Appropriations Committee, 2003-2015; Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2003-2015; Chair, Oversight Committee on Pensions of the Appropriations Committee, 2003-2006; Vice Chair, Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2003-2006; Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 1999-2006; Oversight Committee on Personnel of the Appropriations Committee, 1999-2003; Oversight Committee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation of the Appropriations Committee, 1999-2002; Joint Committee on Base Realignment and Closure, 2008-2010; Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, 2003-2007; House Chair, Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2003-2006; Joint Subcommittee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation, 2003-2015; Joint Committee on Pensions, 2003-2015.

Public Service

State Advisory Council on Administrative Hearings, 2023-; Maryland Military Installation Council, 2019-.

Memberships

American, Federal, Maryland State, Baltimore County, Harford County and Women's Bar Associations; Maryland Military Installation Council, 2019-; Community Foundation of Harford County, Board of Directors (Treasurer; 2020-present), 2016-.

Biographical Information

Born in Baltimore, Maryland; Attended Havre de Grace High School; University of Maryland, College Park, B.S., Psychology, with honors, 1981; University of Maryland School of Law, with honors; Law Clerk to Judge Edward S. Northrop, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 1986-87; Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1986; Associate, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, 1987-1989; Attorney, Partner, Venable, Baetjer and Howard, 1997-99 (Associate, 1989-97); Partner, Litigation Division, Hodes, Ulman, Pessin & Katz, 1999-2002; Member, Maryland House of Delegates 1998-2015; Principal, Law Offices of Mary-Dunlany James, 2002-2011; Founding Partner, James & Zink, 2011-present; Sole Practitioner, Law Firm of Mary-Dulany James, 2019-present; Married; three children.