Leslie M. Downs
Candidate for the upcoming General Election on November 3, 2026. Always verify official ballot status with the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Incumbent Judge of the Orphans' Court for Calvert County, serving continuously since 2002 and as Chief Judge from 2015 to 2023. Local small business owner (Calvert Business Machines) and longtime community leader dedicated to preserving Maryland's accessible, compassionate, lay judicial tradition for families navigating probate administration and guardianship.
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Verified Policy Stances & Platform
Public record positions, statements, and campaign positions.
Advocates for the citizen-judge tradition of the Maryland Orphans' Court, emphasizing that a compassionate, accessible, non-attorney bench ensures responsive, empathetic, and common-sense hearings for grieving families.
Champions the accessible, citizen-oriented lay judicial model of the Orphans' Court to ensure probate proceedings are approachable and supportive for families.
"Maryland lawmakers felt that a non-attorney judiciary system would be more responsive and better able to deal with the nuance and sensitive nature of cases before the Orphans' Court."
Committed to strictly holding executors accountable, preventing estate dissipation, and ensuring minor children and beneficiaries receive their rightful inheritances under Maryland law.
Protects estate assets and vulnerable beneficiaries from executor misconduct, mismanagement, and unauthorized withdrawals.
"The Court was created to ensure that they received what was properly their rights from the estates... We ensure that executors receive their due without taking too much from those left behind."
Official Campaign Priorities
- Providing compassionate, accessible, and common-sense judicial resolution for grieving families without unnecessary legal intimidation
- Safeguarding estates, wills, and minor wards from executor mismanagement and fiduciary overreach
- Upholding continuous judicial education through the Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans' Court (MAJOC)
- Preserving Maryland's citizen-oriented lay judicial tradition in probate matters
Other Candidates in This Race:
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Past member, Tri-County Economic Development Task Force. Born in 1946. Attended high school in Leesburg, Virginia; Northern Virginia Community College. Owner, Calvert Business Machines. Secretary, Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans' Court. Member, Calvert County Repub
Past member, Tri-County Economic Development Task Force. Born in 1946. Attended high school in Leesburg, Virginia; Northern Virginia Community College. Owner, Calvert Business Machines. Secretary, Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans' Court. Member, Calvert County Repub
Past member, Tri-County Economic Development Task Force. Born in 1946. Attended high school in Leesburg, Virginia; Northern Virginia Community College. Owner, Calvert Business Machines. Secretary, Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans' Court. Member, Calvert County Repub
Past member, Tri-County Economic Development Task Force. Born in 1946. Attended high school in Leesburg, Virginia; Northern Virginia Community College. Owner, Calvert Business Machines. Secretary, Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans' Court. Member, Calvert County Repub
Incumbent Orphans' Court Judge Leslie M. Downs, who has served Calvert County continuously since 2002 and previously served as Chief Judge, is seeking reelection to continue providing community-centered probate and guardianship adjudication.