Appellate Court of Maryland Judge Dan Friedman will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 statewide ballot in a nonpartisan retention question, according to BallotReady. The race is listed as "Retain Friedman?" and is certified for the ballot.

Then-Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed Friedman to the court, then called the Court of Special Appeals, on Sept. 23, 2014, according to Wikipedia. He has served since then.

Candidate information

  • Full name: Dan Friedman
  • Office sought: Maryland Appeals Court Judge, at large (retention)
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Birthplace: Panorama City, California
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in government and politics, University of Maryland (1988); juris doctor, University of Maryland (1994)

Experience and public service

Friedman built a career in Maryland law and government before joining the bench, according to the Maryland State Archives and BallotReady profile data.

Before the bench:

  • Legislative aide to Delegate Paul G. Pinsky at the Maryland General Assembly (1988–1989)
  • Law clerk to Judge John Carroll Byrnes at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City (1994–1995)
  • Law clerk to Judge Robert L. Karwacki at the Court of Appeals of Maryland (1995–1996)
  • Attorney at Miles & Stockbridge P.C. (1996–2000)
  • Chief of litigation for Baltimore City (2000–2002)
  • Special counsel at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP (2002–2008)
  • Counsel to the Maryland General Assembly at the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland (2008–2014)
  • Adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law (beginning 1998)

On the bench:

  • Appellate Court of Maryland judge, at large (2014–present)
  • Member, Court Technology Committee, Judicial Council (2015–16)
  • Member, Legislative Committee, Judicial Council (2017)
  • Chair, Rules Review Subcommittee of Equal Justice Committee, Judicial Council (2020–present)

Friedman is also the author of The Maryland State Constitution: A Reference Guide, originally published by Greenwood Press in 2005 and republished by Oxford University Press in 2011, according to the Maryland State Archives. He received the Maryland Leadership in Law Award from the Daily Record in 2009.

This profile was compiled from publicly available records, including the Maryland State Archives and BallotReady.