SOMERSET COUNTY, MARYLAND

ORPHANS' COURT

FORMER JUDGES

[photo, John R. Somers, Orphans' Court Judge, Somerset County, Maryland] JOHN RIGGIN SOMERS (1927-2020)
Chief Judge (Republican, 2015-16
Judge, 1994-2015

Chief Judge, Orphans' Court, Somerset County, April 6, 2015 to July 1, 2016 (Judge, Dec. 1994 to April 16, 2015). Retired July 1, 2016.

Director, Civil Defense and Disaster Preparedness Agency, Somerset County, 1980-81. Director, Emergency Management and Civil Defense Agency, Somerset County, 1981-89. Director, Emergency Management Agency, Somerset County, 1989-92. Former local coordinator, Governor's Highway Safety Program.

Born in Crisfield, Maryland, 1927. Attended Ewell Elementary School, Ewell (Smith Island), Maryland; Crisfield High School, Crisfield, Maryland; Maryland State Police Academy. Served in U.S. Navy, 1945. Served as Maryland State Trooper, 1st Sergeant. Member, Maryland Association of the Judges of the Orphans' Courts. Member, (50 years), Manokin Lodge no. 106, AF&AM; American Legion Post no. 94; Captain John Smoot Chapter, Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution; Maryland State Police Alumni Association. Member, Antioch United Methodist Church, Princess Anne, Maryland. Widower; three sons, eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. Died in Salisbury, Maryland, January 6, 2020.

Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance

Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!

[ Archives' Home Page  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright October 08, 2025 Maryland State Archives