Judge Martin P. Welch has served on the Circuit Court for 17 years, since his initial appointment in 1992 and election in 1994. On the expiration of his 15-year term, he has now been re-appointed by the Governor to be re-elected to another term.

Judge Welch has distinguished himself in the Circuit Court’s Family Division, serving from 1995 to 2006 as the Judge-in-Charge of the Juvenile Docket. He has also served as a member of the Circuit Court’s Court Management Committee, as Jury Judge, and as Chair of both the Bench Personnel Committee and the Bench Rotation Committee.

Judge Welch has served on the Governor’s Systems Reform Initiative, as Chair of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, and as Chair of the Juvenile Law Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference. He fostered the cooperation of State and City agencies involved in developing and building the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, which implements national models in juvenile court reform and best practices.

In 1999, Judge Welch facilitated adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding by the various collateral agencies of the Juvenile Court to promote detention reform and the link between child welfare and delinquency. That collaboration gained grant support from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, which provided “best practices” and technical assistance leading to major systemic reforms. These reforms have become a model for Maryland and other jurisdictions.

Judge Welch has been very active in judicial education. Each year for more than ten years, he has co-directed the comprehensive orientation for all new trial judges in Maryland. He also teaches and lectures frequently to judges and lawyers on juvenile law topics. He has written several articles on juvenile law issues, including a number of pieces in the American Bar Association’s Child Law Practice journal.

Before his appointment in 1992, Judge Welch served for 12 years in the Baltimore City Law Department, ultimately as the Chief of the Corporate Division.

Judge Welch is a 1977 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, a 1974 graduate of Frostburg State University, and a 1971 graduate of Catonsville Senior High School. He and his wife live in the Ashburton neighborhood of Baltimore and have three grown children.