Judge Gerald V. Purnell, the Eastern Shore’s first African-American District Court judge, has retired after an 18-year career on the bench. His last day was August 31, according to online records.
Purnell was appointed by former Gov. Robert Ehrlich and began his judgeship in 2006. Of the seven people who applied for the job, he was the only African-American applicant.
He also served since 2013 as the administrative judge for Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. His successor in that role has been named as Judge Melvin J. Jews, out of Dorchester County, according to the state judiciary.
Prior to becoming a judge, Purnell served from 2003 to 2005 as a deputy state’s attorney in Dorchester County. He also was legal counsel to Ocean City’s Board of Zoning Appeals from 2001 to 2002, according to online records.
A 1978 graduate of Bucknell University, Purnell earned his law degree in 1978 from the Antioch School of Law, now part of the University of the District of Columbia.
Moving forward, it could take months for Gov. Wes Moore to name a replacement.