My name is Cathy Reese. I am currently in my fourth year as a sitting Judge on the Orphans' Court for Carroll County and I am seeking re-election.
Historically named since 1777, at which time the death of a male landowner meant his children were known as orphans, the purpose of the Orphans' Court is to oversee the probate process. The Court reviews estate documents, monitors fees, safeguards distributions (including those to minors), and, when necessary, holds formal hearings ... a place for all parties to be heard. The Orphans' Court will act on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so.
My educational and professional training background is as follows: nearly twenty years of hands-on experience in and knowledge of the probate process, attended Carroll Community College and Villa Julie College (n/k/a Stevenson University), on the job through MICPEL (Continuing Legal Education), Cannon Financial Institute and National Association of Securities Dealers Series 65 Certification. While serving on the Orphans' Court, I continue to pursue additional educational opportunities by way of mandatory Continuing Legal Education through the Judicial Institute of Maryland. I maintain membership in and regularly attend meetings of the Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans' Court.
Accomplishments and interests include retirement from BB&T Bank (formerly Carroll County Bank and Trust Company) as Assistant Vice President and Trust Officer, past board member of Human Services Program of Carroll County including Board Representative to Carroll County's Head Start Program, past board member of Rape Crisis Intervention Service; and, member of Maryland Historical Society, Historical Society of Carroll County, Community Foundation of Carroll County, Carroll County Republican Women's Club of Westminster and Ascension Episcopal Church.
A Judge of the Orphans' Court must have a variety of skills necessary to empathize with people at an extremely stressful and emotional time in their lives. I believe that I have the skills, the experience and the compassion to handle the responsibility of this job. It has been my honor and privilege to have served this county for the past three years and I ask for your vote so that I may continue to do so. Thank you.
