Maryland Constitution
Article IV - Judiciary Department
SEC. 5.

Upon every occurrence or recurrence of a vacancy through death, resignation, removal, disqualification by reason of age or otherwise, or expiration of the term of fifteen years of any judge of a circuit court, or creation of the office of any such judge, or in any other way, the Governor shall appoint a person duly qualified to fill said office, who shall hold the same until the election and qualification of his successor. His successor shall be elected at the first biennial general election for Representatives in Congress after the expiration of the term of fifteen years (if the vacancy occurred in that way) or the first such general election after one year after the occurrence of the vacancy in any other way than through expiration of such term. Except in case of reappointment of a judge upon expiration of his term of fifteen years, no person shall be appointed who will become disqualified by reason of age and thereby unable to continue to hold office until the prescribed time when his successor would have been elected (amended by Chapter 417, Acts of 1880, ratified Nov. 8, 1881; Chapter 772, Acts of 1943, ratified Nov. 7, 1944; Chapter 703, Acts of 1945, ratified Nov. 5, 1946; Chapter 551, Acts of 1975, ratified Nov. 2, 1976; Chapter 523, Acts of 1980, ratified Nov. 4, 1980).