Three Republicans -- two of them incumbents -- have filed to run for three Carroll County Orphans Court judge seats in the primary election this fall.

The third incumbent said yesterday he has not decided whether to run.

The newcomer in the race is Dorothy "Dottie" V. Utz, 66, of Westminster. She said she retired in December as manager of six Admiral Cleaners Inc. locations in Carroll.

The two incumbents who have filed candidacy papers with the Board of Elections are:

* Albert W. Selby, 74, of Sykesville, who is serving his second four-year term.

* Harrison E. Utz, 64, of Finksburg, who is serving his first term. He is not related to Dottie Utz.

Walter T. Haines Jr., 72, a Republican from Westminster who is in his third term, said he will decide in the next week or two whether to seek re-election. The deadline to file is July 5.

"I'm not as young as I was 12 years ago, and it's getting to be more work all the time and more of a hassle all the time," Judge Haines said.

"I've enjoyed it. I may still run. It depends what the field looks like."

Orphans Court judges work part-time and review estates, ensure that wills are properly executed and settle disputes over estates.

Contending that their workload has increased, the incumbents lobbied for a raise during this year's General Assembly session. Legislators gave them a pay increase, effective January 1995, but it wasn't as large as they had requested.

Lawmakers voted to raise the judges' salaries to $7,500 from $6,500 a year.

The judges had asked for $9,500.

Legislators also increased the judges' travel allowances to $200 a year from $100. The judges had asked for $500.

The judges told local legislators that their workload has increased in recent years.

Mrs. Utz said this is her first run for public office.

"I would like the job because I always served the people of Carroll County. I would like to continue serving them," she said.

Judge Utz, who retired from Bendix Field Engineering Corp. in Columbia in 1987, said his experience as an Orphans Court judge qualifies him for re-election.

Judge Selby is a former member of the county Board of Zoning Appeals and was a businessman for 43 years.

In the 1990 election, Judge Haines was the highest vote-getter with 19,424 votes; Judge Utz received 15,405; and Judge Selby received 13,997.

Two Democrats also ran for the judges' seats four years ago.

No Democrat has filed yet for the current race.