Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Matthew J. Fader announced that the Court has named Catholic Law alumnus Philip Gregory (Greg) Hilton '95 as clerk of the court, effective November 10, 2022. Hilton was sworn in by the governor on November 7.

Hilton has served for more than a decade as clerk of the Court of Special Appeals, appointed in 2013 by the Court of Special Appeals. He also served as chief deputy clerk of the Court of Special Appeals from 2009 to 2013. Hilton replaces Suzanne C. Johnson, who has served as clerk of the Court of Appeals of Maryland since December 2018.

As head of the clerk’s office for the state’s highest appellate court, Hilton will manage the state reporter, court staff, operations, business processes, and oversee the court docket, including maintaining the official court record. He also will develop and execute the court budget. In addition, the clerk’s office maintains the attorney grievance and judicial disabilities dockets.

“Greg Hilton is uniquely qualified to fulfill the role of clerk of the court and brings his impressive court management and operations acumen to the Court of Appeals after serving nearly 15 years as clerk and chief deputy clerk on the Court of Special Appeals,” said Chief Judge Matthew J. Fader. “We look forward to his continued leadership in the appellate courts. I also extend thanks to Suzanne Johnson for her dedicated service to the Maryland Judiciary and the Court of Appeals.”

As clerk of the Court of Special Appeals, Hilton helped lead the court through the COVID-19 public health emergency as well as the transition back to pre-pandemic operations. This included the management of 40 court personnel who were working in-person and remotely to ensure the court remained fully operational throughout the pandemic. Hilton also implemented permanent court process improvements developed in response to the public health emergency. Hilton’s duties at the Court of Special Appeals included providing legal analysis and recommendations to the chief judge and other judges regarding motions, statutes, rules, and policies. He also helped lead the appellate courts through the transition to the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) integrated case management system. Hilton spearheaded the implementation of a new scheduling process for appeals that has reduced time delays in getting pending appeals heard and decided, and he developed and implemented the court’s case-time standards, instituting a monthly tracking system for appeals.

Hilton currently serves as a member of the Maryland Judiciary Judicial Council’s Court Operations Committee, Court Management Committee, Operations Subcommittee of the Equal Justice Committee, the Technology Training Subcommittee, and other Judiciary committees and work groups. In addition, Hilton currently serves as the elected president of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks, and his term is from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected for this critical role at the Court of Appeals,” said Greg Hilton. “I appreciate the Court’s trust in me to lead the clerk’s office for Maryland’s highest appellate court.”