Irma Steinberg Raker[2] (born April 24, 1938)[3] is a Senior Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, the state's highest court.[1] In 2007, she was awarded the American Bar Association's Margaret Brent Award for outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way for other women in the legal profession.[4]

Irma S. Raker
Senior Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals[1]
Assumed office
April 24, 2008[1]
Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals from the 7th Appellate Judicial Circuit (Montgomery County)[1]
In office
January 7, 1994 – April 24, 2008[1]
Appointed byWilliam D. Schaefer
Preceded byJohn F. McAuliffe
Succeeded byMary Ellen Barbera
Associate Judge of the Montgomery County Circuit Court (6th Judicial Circuit)[1]
In office
February 3, 1982 – December 1993[1]
Associate Judge of the Montgomery County District Court (6th District)[1]
In office
March 21, 1980 – February 2, 1982[1]
Personal details
Born
Irma Steinberg

(1938-04-28) April 28, 1938 (age 85)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
SpouseSamuel K. Raker
EducationSyracuse University (B.A.)
Hague Academy of International Law
American University (J.D.)[1]

She was born Irma Steinberg in Brooklyn, New York, and attended local schools including Midwood High School.[1] She graduated from Syracuse University in 1959 and studied at The Hague Academy of International Law.[1]

Steinberg interrupted her education to marry Samuel K. Raker and oversee the early development of their three children.[1] She then returned to her studies, earning a J.D. degree from the American University in Washington, D.C. in 1972. She was admitted to the Maryland bar the next year.[1]

Raker served as an Assistant State's Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland from 1973 to 1979.[1] Judge Raker took the bench when she was appointed a trial judge in Maryland's District Court of Maryland and then the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.[1] She served in a number of increasingly responsible judicial positions until Governor Schaefer appointed her to the Maryland Court of Appeals, the state's highest court.[1] She became a Senior Judge in 2008 and currently sits by designation.[1]

Judge Raker currently serves as the Chairperson of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission.[1] She is actively engaged in private mediation and arbitration.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Judge Raker's profile at the Maryland state archives
  2. ^ Who's Who of American Women, 1997-1998 - page 2212
  3. ^ Maryland Manual (PDF). 1983. p. 500.
  4. ^ Previous Margaret Brent Recipients

External links edit