James J. Dietrich
MD · Associate Judge, Circuit Court for Montgomery County
James J. Dietrich has been an associate judge of the Montgomery County Circuit Court since October 2025. He spent more than 25 years as a prosecutor in the Howard County and Montgomery County State's Attorney's offices and teaches law at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 14 records
Received 2026 endorsements as part of the sitting judges' slate from Gov. Wes Moore, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Maryland State Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Montgomery County.
May 21, 2026
Source: electsittingjudgesmcs.com
Was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore as an associate judge of the Montgomery County Circuit Court, after 21 years as a Howard County prosecutor and seven years in the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.
September 10, 2025
Source: governor.maryland.gov
Prosecuted former Wootton High student Alex Ye for a school shooting manifesto. The judge agreed with prosecutors that it was a true threat, not fiction, and found Ye guilty of threatening mass violence.
January 8, 2025
Source: bethesdamagazine.com
Prosecuted Torrey Moore, whom juries convicted in 2024 of murdering a store clerk and of murdering his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child. It was the county's first trial for the murder of a viable fetus.
November 22, 2024
Source: baltimoresun.com
Prosecuted Gary Savage, whom a jury convicted of attempted first-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter after he opened fire on his estranged wife and her boyfriend in Silver Spring.
July 7, 2023
Source: web.archive.org
Prosecuted Mario Samm, whom a jury convicted of second-degree murder and a gun charge for the 2021 shooting death of a 25-year-old man.
April 14, 2023
Source: web.archive.org
Prosecuted Jose Lara-Chacon, whom a jury convicted of first-degree murder for a Wheaton killing after rejecting his self-defense claim.
November 17, 2022
Source: bethesdamagazine.com
Prosecuted Joshua Toure, whom a Montgomery County jury convicted of felony murder and armed robbery for a Christmas Day killing in Silver Spring.
April 6, 2022
Source: web.archive.org
Prosecuted Stephon Prather for a 2013 shootout with Howard County police that wounded an officer. A jury convicted him of attempted murder, assault, and gun charges.
July 21, 2014
Source: baltimoresun.com
Prosecuted Robert Jarrett Jr., who was convicted of second-degree murder for killing his wife in 1991 and burying her under his backyard shed in Elkridge. Prosecutors had sought a first-degree conviction.
April 23, 2013
Source: baltimoresun.com
Dropped a rape charge against a man accused of raping a 16-year-old at knifepoint, citing doubts about witness credibility. The man pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and got probation; the girl's family wanted a trial.
March 24, 2004
Source: baltimoresun.com
Won a first-degree murder conviction against Tavon Sands for the 2002 shooting death of a 23-year-old in Columbia. The verdict came at the third trial, after two mistrials.
March 5, 2004
Source: baltimoresun.com
Prosecuted a former Dundalk minister caught in a police internet sting for trying to arrange sex with a 13-year-old girl. The judge acquitted him of all charges, finding reasonable doubt.
January 10, 2003
Source: baltimoresun.com
Prosecuted Frederick chemist Alan Chmurny in Howard County. A jury convicted Chmurny of trying to poison a former co-worker by putting mercury in her car's air vents.
September 12, 2001
Source: baltimoresun.com
Past race James J. Dietrich ran in:
- Judge of the Circuit Court, Circuit 6 · November 3, 2026 · Montgomery County, Maryland · incumbent