By: Steve Lash

Unlike the highest tribunals of many states, Maryland’s top court — the Court of Appeals — has “judges,” not “justices.”

Remembering this can be a problem for lawyers who also practice in states — such as neighboring Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — or in the federal system, where the top jurists are justices.

Thankfully, Maryland’s top jurist — Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert M. Bell — has provided attorneys with a way to remember how to address the state’s top judges.

It happened Wednesday, when attorney David C. Gardner appeared before the Court of Appeals to press the case of fellow lawyer Timur Edib, whom the state Attorney Grievance Commission has accused of charging a client an unreasonable fee. At one point, Gardner referred to Judge Mary Ellen Barbera as “Justice Barbera.”

That error elicited a tongue-in-cheek correction from Bell.

“There is no ‘justice’ in Maryland,” he said.