I graduated from Damascus High School in 1966 and attended Frostburg University for three years. I was then accepted at the University of Nebraska College of Law and graduated in December of 1971. Upon graduation, I moved back to Maryland and assumed the duties of a law clerk for the Honorable Perry G. Bowen. I worked with the firm of Sengstack, Sengstack and Lamson and was a part time assistant States Attorney from 1981 to 1984. I then went into a solo practice and in 1989 ran in a contested election for the office of the State's Attorney and won. I was subsequently sworn into that office in January of 1980 and upon the unexpected passing of the District Court Judge in February of 1980 I was appointed by Governor Hughes to the District Court vacancy becoming the youngest judge to ever fill that vacancy. I served in that capacity until the spring of 1991 and retired as the Administrative Judge for the Fourth District.

I resumed private practice after two spine surgeries in 1992.