Each year, MSBA presents the Judge Anselm Sodaro Judicial Civility Award (the Sodaro Award) to a Maryland judge who demonstrates exceptional temperament, civility, and courtesy to all those who come before them.
Judge Sodaro stated that courtrooms should be “inviting” to attorneys and litigants. He believed that while judges must maintain order and control of the courtroom, they should do so in a manner that does not demean or embarrass attorneys, litigants, jurors, or witnesses. Further, he noted that lawyers always sought judges who provided a “level playing field.”
Judge Sodaro made it a practice to compliment attorneys and litigants and to recognize in open court the efforts of both sides in presenting difficult cases.
The Sodaro Award seeks to honor judges with similar qualities.
This year, MSBA will present the Sodaro Award posthumously to Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson during the Annual Meeting in Ocean City on Friday, June 7th. Judge Wilkinson’s family will accept the award in his honor.
Judge Wilkinson served as an Associate Judge of the Washington County Circuit Court, 4th Judicial Circuit, from January 10, 2020, to October 19, 2023. His tenure was tragically cut short when he was murdered in front of his home by a disgruntled litigant.
Wilkinson earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating from Emory University School of Law in 1997, he worked as a clerk at Washington County’s circuit court and then joined a private practice. He left the firm in 2006 to become an assistant county attorney in Washington County. Six years later, he started his own law office. He was sworn in as a circuit court judge in January 2020 after being appointed by former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican.
During his time on the bench, Judge Wilkinson embodied the ideals Judge Sodaro championed: treating everyone in the courtroom with respect and ensuring fairness and civility in all proceedings. His dedication to these principles not only garnered admiration from his peers but also left a lasting positive impact on the legal community. Judge Wilkinson's legacy makes him a fitting recipient of the Sodaro Award, and his absence is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of being in his courtroom.
Attorney Bruce Poole, who knew Judge Wilkinson since childhood, recalled “[h]e was personable, professional and was determined to be a top-flight judge from the very beginning.” Poole remembers that even in the earliest days of his judicial career, Judge Wilkinson exhibited an even-tempered and personable demeanor. “He operated his courtroom with a very organized and definable system and gave everyone who appeared before him a fair shot. He had the attitude of ‘get there early, stay late, and always learn something.’”
Judge Wilkinson quickly developed a reputation for being fair-minded and thoughtful with his judicial rulings. Attorney Ken Berman appeared before Judge Wilkinson once and immediately appreciated his professional qualities. Berman recalled, “when I appeared before Judge Wilkinson, I had never met him before, but he left such a lasting impression.” Berman shared that he appeared before Judge Wilkinson for a 3-hour hearing pertaining to a complex Maryland Health Care Malpractice Claims issue. He noted that during the lengthy hearing, Judge Wilkinson was “patient with the parties and judicially smart, but also exhibited a degree of humanity and realism.”
Throughout his career as a judge, Wilkinson readily took on tough cases, saving the court time and writing opinions and rulings that made cases simpler, Washington County’s circuit court administrative judge Judge Brett R. Wilson shared, but he “never lost his cool,” and respected everybody who came to the courthouse. Washington County Attorney Kirk Downey echoed that sentiment, noting that Wilkinson was “unassuming” and didn’t take himself too seriously. “He treated people who appeared before him with kindness and respect,” Downey added.