Courtesy of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center  

The State of Maryland is home to many women “firsts” and “founders,” many of whom are highlighted and honored at the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center.

In addition to the renowned women who are known far beyond our state, there are innumerable women in each of our lives who have sustained our families, taught or volunteered in our schools, worked for social justice, and shaped our communities—often behind the scenes, serving anonymously, without recognition and praise. The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center is committed to telling and preserving the stories of these unsung heroines and honoring their many contributions.

One of these Unsung Heroines is the Honorable Michele D. Hotten, who is a woman of many “firsts” in her own right.

In August 2010, Judge Hotten was sworn in by Governor Martin O’Malley to the Court of Special Appeals—the state’s second-highest court—making her the first African American woman to hold a position on any appellate court in Maryland.

At the time, Governor O’Malley noted, “Many judges and lawyers have written to me to describe Judge Hotten as impeccably prepared, uniformly fair, and a devoted legal scholar with a truly legendary work ethic. I am confident that she will serve well on the Court of Special Appeals and handle its notorious case loads with efficiency, integrity, and fairness.”

Prior to this appointment, Judge Hotten had been the first African American woman to sit on the Prince George’s County Circuit Court, where she served for 15 years presiding over serious criminal trials as well as civil cases. Prior to joining the Circuit Court, she served one year as an Associate Judge for the District Court of Prince George’s County. She has also worked as an assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s County and in private practice representing individuals, companies, and local government in a variety of matters.

Growing up in Northeast Washington, D.C., she became interested in practicing law as a nineyear-old girl watching Perry Mason on TV. She received real-life encouragement and support from both her mother and uncle, which helped her continue her dream even after she was told by others that law “was not a suitable goal for an African American.”

She attended and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida’s New College. Intending to major in English, she changed her major to political science when she discovered that the English Department’s reading lists did not include any African American authors. She later went on to earn her law degree from Howard University, where she served as associate editor of the Howard Law Journal.

In addition to her law work, Judge Hotten has been actively involved with the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, the Prince George’s County Bar Association, the Maryland State Bar Association, the Harry Cole Judicial Council, the Maryland Women’s Bar Association, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and the District of Columbia Bar. Judge Hotten is also one of the inaugural Science and Technology Fellows of the Advanced Science and Technological/Adjudicatory Resource Program (ASTAR) and a 2008 recipient of The Daily Record’s Leadership in Law award.

By making Maryland history, Judge Hotten has opened doors serving as a role model, especially to African American girls, by showing what hard work and perseverance can accomplish.

For more information about the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center or to become involved with the Center, visit our website at www.MDWomensHeritageCenter.org, call 410-767-0675, or e-mail mwhcjill@comcast.net.

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center is located at 39 West Lexington Street in Baltimore. Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free.