Federal law clerk bar admissions were front and center on June 13, 2025, as the FBA Maryland Chapter proudly sponsored a ceremony honoring new members of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

On June 12, 2025, the Federal Bar Association Maryland Chapter gathered for a vibrant evening of networking and camaraderie at TopGolf. While members enjoyed reconnecting and sharing professional updates, the focal point of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 DiRito Award, which honors exceptional public service in support of the FBA’s mission. This year’s award was presented to longtime FBA leader Bonnie Greenberg, whose federal legal career and commitment to the FBA exemplify the spirit of the award.

The Demystifying Federal Clerkships event, held on April 16, 2025, at the University of Baltimore School of Law, provided students with valuable insight into the federal clerkship process. Hosted by the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in partnership with the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys and the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Inc., the event brought together federal judges, former clerks, and aspiring law students for an evening of learning and networking.

The 2025 essay contest organized by the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association invited high school students from across the state to weigh in on one of the most timely legal and civic issues today: whether schools should have the authority to censor or punish students for their social media posts. Running from February 3 through March 28, 2025, the contest received twenty thoughtful submissions from students across Maryland.

The Defense of the Judiciary Statement issued by the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association on February 28, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the Chapter’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the independence and integrity of the federal judiciary. Against a backdrop of mounting public and political attacks on the judicial system, the statement calls on legal professionals, bar associations, and the public to stand firm in defending the courts and upholding the rule of law.

District Judge Adam Abelson was officially sworn in as a United States District Judge for the District of Maryland on September 16, 2024. His appointment marks a milestone in a distinguished legal career that has long been connected to both the bench and the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA). Judge Abelson previously served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge, having been sworn into that role on September 18, 2023. His elevation to District Judge follows the vacancy created when the Honorable James K. Bredar took senior status.