Van Hollen, Cardin Praise Bipartisan Senate Confirmation of Judge Brendan Hurson for the U.S. District Court of Maryland

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today praised confirmation of U.S. Magistrate Judge Brendan Hurson to serve as U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland.

“With Brendan Hurson’s confirmation, the U.S. District Court for Maryland has a new judge with an unwavering commitment to providing Americans with fair, just, and equal treatment under the law. From his time volunteering and teaching in underserved communities to his many years working as a public defender in Maryland, Judge Hurson learned firsthand the importance of ensuring everyone has equal access to our judicial system. His record of experience and devotion to upholding the highest standard of the law have prepared him to serve with distinction on this court for years to come,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Judge Hurson brings a tremendous amount of Maryland-based legal experience, including more than a decade as a public defender, to the U.S. District Court for Maryland. We are proud to have him confirmed for this lifetime appointment, as he continues his service on the federal bench in Baltimore,” said Senator Cardin. “Judicial nominees must meet the highest standards of integrity, competence and temperament. I am confident that Judge Hurson will safeguard the rights of all Marylanders and uphold the Constitution and rule of law.

Judge Hurson was nominated to fill the vacancy created when Judge George Hazel resigned in February 2023.  Acting on the recommendation of Senators Van Hollen and Cardin, President Joe Biden nominated Judge Hurson for this vacancy in March, the Judiciary Committee held his confirmation hearing in April, and he was approved by a bipartisan majority of the committee in May.  In September, the Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Maddox to fill the other opening on the federal district court. He awaits a vote by the full Senate.

U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE BRENDAN HURSON

U.S. Magistrate Judge Hurson received his undergraduate degree in 2000 from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island where he majored in Public and Community Service Studies with a minor in Black Studies. After college, he served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in California as an advocate for poor and marginalized communities in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. He later taught middle school at St. Thomas More School in Washington, D.C. In 2005, Judge Hurson graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Maryland School of Law where he was a member of the Journal of Race, Religion, Gender & Class, competed as a member of the National Trial Team, served as president of the Student Bar Association, and was active in the clinical law program.

After law school, Judge Hurson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Margaret B. Seymour of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. He then worked as an associate at a small law firm in Baltimore where he practiced civil and criminal litigation in state and federal courts. 

In 2007, Judge Hurson joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Baltimore where he defended individuals charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses in Maryland’s federal court. He was named Senior Litigation Counsel in 2015. In 2017, Judge Hurson joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the United States Virgin Islands where he represented people charged with violating federal and territorial laws on the islands of St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix. Judge Hurson returned to Maryland in late 2018 to resume his service at the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Baltimore. In February 2022, Judge Hurson was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge.