Judge of the Circuit Court, Circuit 8
June 23, 2026 · Baltimore city, Maryland · County · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 15 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 573,243 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(1,065,949 ÷ 573,243) ÷ ln(1,065,949 ÷ 19,346) = 15.47, comparing counties in MD (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
This office is responsible for:
- Hearing trials — criminal cases, lawsuits, family, or probate matters, depending on the court
- Ruling on evidence, motions, and sentences
- Applying state law and court procedure fairly in every case
Affected Areas: Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Civil Rights, Impartiality, Legal Competence
Candidates
Catherine Chen
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Catherine Chen is an associate judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and a 2026 candidate for election to the court. Maryland's official government manual lists her among the incumbent circuit judges with a term ending in 2026.
Records: Housing Affordability 1 for, Legal Competence 1 for
Hope Tipton
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Hope Tipton is an associate judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and a 2026 candidate for election to the court. Maryland's judiciary identifies her as an active Circuit 8 associate judge.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Impartiality 2 for, Legal Competence 4 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for
Kimberly C. McBride
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Kimberly C. McBride is an associate judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and a 2026 candidate for election to the court. Maryland court records identify her as an active Circuit 8 judge after her 2024 appointment.
Records: Impartiality 1 for, Legal Competence 4 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for
Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill is an associate judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and a 2026 candidate for election to the court. Maryland's judiciary also lists him as vice-chair of its Judicial Ethics Committee for 2025–26.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Legal Competence 2 for
Levi S. Zaslow
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Levi S. Zaslow is an associate judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and a 2026 candidate for election to the court. Maryland's judiciary identifies him as an active Circuit 8 associate judge.
Records: Legal Competence 4 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for
Piper Faith McKeithen
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Piper Faith McKeithen is an associate judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and a 2026 candidate for election to the court. Maryland court records identify her as an active Circuit 8 judge after her 2024 appointment.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Impartiality 2 for, Legal Competence 4 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for
Election sources
Source: elections.maryland.gov
Source: elections.maryland.gov
Source: elections.maryland.gov