Baltimore, MD – For nine years, Judge Karen Friedman has served her city on the bench of the Orphan’s Court.
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On Friday afternoon, the calling got bigger, much bigger.
The Judge, a beloved figure in the Jewish community and across the city and region, received a phone call from Governor Martin O’Malley.
According to the Baltimore Jewish Times Calling her by her Hebrew name, the Governor said, “Chaya, this is Martin O’Malley. “I am calling to appoint you as a Judge to the District Court of Baltimore City.”
With the appointment, Judge Friedman will be leaving the decisions of probate and moving into judicial arenas that include criminal law.
The Judge is married to Jewish leader and philanthropist Howard “Tzvi” Friedman. The couple has four children.
I hope they don’t call her ‘Judge Chaya’ like they call one Judge in NY ‘The Judge, the Mench’.
Mazel Tov and Hatzlacha Rabba
how could you call this orthodox when its written kol kovodu bath malich panimu
Is she Chareidi??
chaya is amazing at many things – she is incredible on the bench
this paper, like the NY Times call the charedim ultra orthodox
Mazel Tov to you! May you continue to do the fabulous work that you do in helping to preserve the law in our State. You are a true inspiration to the citizens and community of Baltimore.
Best wishes!
Jonathan Lasson
I personally have had an amazing experience with chaya. She was incredible
I wish her the best of luck. May she be a fine role model for both genders.
The toughest female Jewish judge in the USA is Judge Judy. I don’t agree with the way she humiliates and verbally abuses the litigants. However, she knows the law. Her husband, Judge Jerry, as well as Mayor Koch (The People’s Court), were much nicer to the litigants.
Do you think her husband had anything to do with it? Maybe he needs her to earn a little more parnasa. I am sure her appointment is soley based on her qualifications not her husbands small time connections. Go howie
Only in the demoratic USA such a thing could happen. In Israel they would never had appointed a orthodox jewish judge.
She will hopefully be a role model for other Bais Yaakov grads. Not everyone needs to be a teacher, secretary, Speech Pathologist, or OT. There is room for frum female Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, Engineers, Accountants, IT Professionals, and even Judges. Every profession has its challenges for either gender, and they should be not be overblown. Careers should be objectively presented as having postive opportunities and the challenges should be put into perspective.
Reply to #19
Israeli Supreme Court Justice Neal Hendel is an American-born Orthodox Jew.
Who cares, this is obviously a political move by O’Malley to obtain the orthodox vote.
I wonder who was her competition for this position.
I agree with 32! Baltimore Voters, don’t fall for it! Remember the BOAST bill which was changed last minute to only help Catholic Schools. Remember that Ehrlich is pushing for school vouchers that will greatly reduce our tuition bills. We had a budget surplus with Ehrlich, now a whooping deficit which will mean higher taxes. Mazel Tov to Judge Friedman! BUT vote with your wallet!!
To all you petty and ignorant people who have nothing better to do then talk Loshon Harah- let’s set the record straight. Chaya graduated in the top 10 percent of her class at University of Maryland School of Law.Besides for being a judge on the Orphans Court she is also a Professor at that law school. In her nine years on the bench she has NEVER been overturned on appeal. Find another judge who can say that. I guess the appealate judges cared about who her husband is and what religion she practices too right? O’ Malley could not just pick any candidate he wanted. He was given a short list of names to chose from. This list is compiled by a Commission made up of 13 prominent Baltimore lawyers. 30 lawyers applied for the position. All applicants had to be interviewed by many specialty bars- for example the black bar, Asian bar etc- who then give their choice to the large Commission. The large Commission then interviews all the applicants and compiles a short list that is submitted to the Governor. This Commission UNANIMOUSLY voted Chaya on to the short list based on her incredible Qualifications. Only 4 out of 30 made the short list. Chaya was the only one who got a unanimous vote. The Commission didn’t know or care about her husband or her religion. You should be ashamed of your assumptions. Besides for being a judge and a Professor, Chaya is raising two sets of twins and is verY active in numerous charities. She hosts in her home yearly many parlor meetings including for Lakewood Yeshiva and Yad Lachim. Many of you owe Chaya an apology. Kudos to you Judge Friedman