A first for Montgomery County, Md.: Karla N. Smith, 42, was sworn-in Thursday as a Montgomery County District Court judge. She's the first African-American woman to have the position.
Previously, Smith was a prosecutor in the Montgomery County state's attorney's office.
Family, friends and several state and county leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony at the judicial center in Rockville.
In describing her mission as a judge, Smith told News 4, “I think the most important thing for a judge is to strive to make sure that every person who walks through the doors of the courtroom has a fair day in court, that they feel they’ve been heard whether or not their outcome is good or not. But that they feel that I got to say my peace, what I had to say was heard, I was respected , I was treated fairly. So, for me, that’s the most important piece.“
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Maryland) chose Smith for the position.
