Maryland Supreme Court removes second Anne Arundel Orphans’ Court judge

The Maryland Supreme Court removed Vickie Gipson, who was an Anne Arundel County Orphans’ Court judge, with immediate effect Monday.

Gipson’s removal stemmed from a long public dispute with another former judge, Marc Knapp. The state Supreme Court removed Knapp from the bench in June.

In a short per curiam order, the court called Gipson’s misconduct “egregious.”

The Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities found in May that Gipson, who was serving as the Orphans’ Court’s chief judge but did not run for reelection, often had loud, uncomfortable arguments with Knapp.

In Maryland, Orphans’ Courts oversee the administration of estates, also known as probate.

The commission found Gipson undermined public confidence in the judiciary, interfered with the operations of the court and used her position “to advance personal interests.”

The arguments spilled into the public, with court staff saying they could hear shouting and others reporting a “tense” atmosphere when both Gipson and Knapp were in court.

Gipson twice summoned county police to the probate court and applied for a peace order against Knapp.

The Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor unsuccessfully prosecuted Knapp on the criminal charge of illegally recording his colleagues. An Anne Arundel Circuit Court judge found the recording in question was illegally obtained by police, forcing prosecutors to dismiss the case.

Attorneys who investigated Knapp and Gipson for the commission said both were “unprofessional” but labeled Knapp as the “aggressor.”

This is not the first time Gipson’s actions in office have faced scrutiny.

In September 2021, Gipson entered an agreement with the judicial disabilities commission after the commission found she failed to pay her taxes, used court resources “to apply for a political position,” and attempted to sell jewelry and insurance to court employees.

Gipson completed the terms of that agreement in September 2022 and avoided further discipline. She was reelected in November that year but did not run again in this election cycle.

Knapp ran for reelection to the bench, even after his removal, but lost in the Democratic primary.

With Gipson’s removal yesterday, none of the three judges elected to the Anne Arundel County Orphans’ Court in 2022 remains on the bench. In addition to Knapp’s removal earlier this year, Judge David Duba resigned in November 2024.

Banner reporter Alex Mann contributed to this story.