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Disciplinary hearing for Anne Arundel Orphan’s Court Judge postponed
Disciplinary hearing for Anne Arundel Orphan’s Court Judge postponed
Listen to this articleThe final disciplinary hearing for Anne Arundel County Orphan’s Court Judge Vickie Gipson was postponed Friday.
The Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities, which disciplines judges, held a closed hearing for two hours on Friday at which Gipson presented a motion that required confidentiality. It’s not clear what the motion was.
After the discussion concluded, members of the public were allowed into the courtroom and commission chair Anne Albright announced the postponement.
Her final hearing is now scheduled for Dec. 5.
A handful of employees for the Anne Arundel County Register of Wills office have testified as to disputes between Gipson and fellow Anne Arundel Orphans’ Court Judge Marc Knapp at the orphans’ court that took place when members of the public were present, with several witnesses describing Gipson’s interactions with Knapp as “disruptive.”
Earlier this year, investigative counsel for the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities found probable cause to believe Gipson committed sanctionable conduct by engaging in “repeated verbal altercations” with a judicial colleague — revealed to be Judge Marc Knapp — in chambers and during periods when the court was open to the public.
Gipson participated in the Friday hearing virtually. She and her counsel did not attend the first hearing, which was in August.
The commission held the hearing at Howard County Circuit Court in Ellicott City.
Knapp’s first hearing before the commission is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 14.
