MEET THE JUDGES

Judge Catherine H. McQueen serves as an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, bringing a compassionate approach to the bench. She believes every person who enters the courtroom deserves respect, fairness, and a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Before her appointment, Judge McQueen practiced law for twenty-three years, focusing for the last fifteen years on complex family law, fiduciary litigation, and guardianship matters. While in private practice, Judge McQueen was frequently appointed by the Court in guardianship cases to help vulnerable adults, many of whom had been financially exploited or neglected. Earlier in her career, Judge McQueen practiced civil and commercial litigation, which broadened the legal foundation and skills she employs on the bench.

Judge McQueen earned her B.A. in Political Science from Clemson University and her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.

Beyond the courtroom, Judge McQueen has been a dedicated member of the legal community. An active member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, she has served as a Bar Leader, Treasurer of both the Bar Association and Bar Foundation, and a member of the Bar Foundation Board of Directors. She also participated in multiple Bar Association committees. She is also a Maryland State Bar Foundation Fellow, former Secretary of the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association, and was a long-time member of the Maryland Peer Review Committee.

During her time in private practice, Judge McQueen was consistently recognized for excellence in her field, including Best Lawyers in America – Family Law (2018-2023), Maryland Top 50 Women, Top 100 Lawyers (2019-2023), and Maryland and District of Columbia Super Lawyers (2015-2023). She was also named as a Top Divorce Lawyer by Washingtonian Magazine in 2019 and Top Family Lawyer by Bethesda Magazine in 2023.

Judge McQueen has also contributed to the community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County and as a vestry member of her church. She is married and has one son.

Appointed by Governor Wes Moore, Judge McQueen was sworn in as a Circuit Court Judge in December 2024 following an extensive vetting process. This included evaluation by approximately thirteen local and statewide bar associations and the Montgomery County Judicial Nominating Commission, involving written applications, investigations, and interviews. After the Commission’s nomination, Governor Moore appointed Judge McQueen in October 2024.

Since joining the bench, Judge McQueen has been appointed to the Maryland Task Force to Study Fiduciary Adjudication.