Judges & Magistrates

The Honorable DaNeeka Varner Cotton serves as Administrative Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit and the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. She develops and implements the short-term and long-term planning and oversees daily operations of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County and supervises the county administrative judges in the circuit courts of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties.


The Circuit Court for Prince George's County includes 24 active judges, who serve full-time during their term in office. Because of the large volume of cases filed in this court, some matters may be heard by senior judges or by magistrates. Senior judges are retired judges recalled for service as needed. Senior judges have the same authority as active judges to hear and decide matters filed in this court.


Magistrates serving in the Family Division are appointed by the Circuit Court to hear matters involving child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, child custody and divorce. Family Division Magistrates do not issue final orders; magistrates recommend proposed orders for the judges.