First Appointed Black Orphans’ Court Judge

     Professor and Maryland State Delegate

   In 1990 Hon. Frank Turner was appointed as the

  first African American Howard County Orphans’

  Court Judge and became the first

  appointed African American judge

   in Howard County history.  Turner was unseated

   the following year in the general election and

   currently serves as a well- respected  Maryland

   State Delegate representing Howard County.

   In  1998-99 Turner drafted and spearheaded a

    local legislation change approved by the entire

    Howard County delegation that allowed the newly

    elected Judge , Hon. Sherae McNeal, Esq.  to

    continue her law practice  while serving part time

    as an Orphans’  Court Judge, a common practice

    in many other Maryland jurisdictions .

    This change was only the second time in Howard

    County history that legislation was enacted for an

    elected official, the other being Dr. Chuck Ecker,

    former Howard County Executive.

   During the past decade, Turner has secured

    record funding for Howard County public schools

    and Howard Community College.