Hogan names 5 to PG County District Court bench

Gov. Larry Hogan appointed five individuals to the Prince George’s County District Court bench Monday.

Wennesa Bell Snoddy, John Anthony Bielec, Dolores Dorsainvil, LaKeecia Reneé Allen and Stacey Maria Cobb Smith were named to vacancies after being recommended by the county’s judicial nominating commission, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“The appointment of qualified individuals to serve across our state’s justice system is paramount to upholding our responsibilities to the people of Maryland and maintaining the highest standards of the rule of law,” Hogan said in a statement. “I have confidence that these appointees will be strong advocates for the law and will serve the citizens of Prince George’s County admirably.”

Snoddy has been an associate county attorney with Prince George’s since 2017. Prior to that, she spent 13 years as an assistant state’s attorney.

Bielec is an assistant general counsel with the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, where he has worked since 2002. He has maintained a private practice in Beltsville since 1993 and primarily provides pro bono representation.

Dorsainvil has been an assistant disciplinary counsel in Washington for 13 years and prior to that worked for the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission.

Allen works in the legislative division of the Prince George’s County Office of Law and previously worked there as a legal adviser to the police department, in the litigation department and in the Child in Need of Assistance Division.

Smith has been a prosecutor in the county for her entire legal career and currently serves as the chief of the major crimes unit.