ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced the appointments of the Honorable Victor Manuel Del Pino to the Montgomery County Circuit Court and Joseph C. Ruddy to the Prince George’s County Circuit Court.
“The Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Circuit Courts are gaining two exceptional legal professionals who have dedicated their lives to advancing justice under the law,”
said Gov. Moore. “These public servants bring a wealth of legal experience, and I am grateful for their continued service to our state.”
The Honorable Victor Manuel Del Pino
The Honorable Victor Del Pino has served as a district court judge in Montgomery County since 2019. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was a partner with McGann, Del Pino and Hughes, LLC for nine years, where his practice concentrated on criminal, personal injury, and immigration law. Judge Del Pino previously served seven years as a prosecutor in Montgomery County, including two years as the chief of the Gang Prosecution Unit, making him the first Latino to hold that position in the history of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. He also served two terms on the board of trustees of the Maryland Public Defender’s Office. A lifelong resident of Montgomery County and fluent in Spanish, he has served as an adjunct professor at several institutions and is slated to begin teaching at the Georgetown University School of Law in 2026.
Judge Del Pino earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Joseph Cornelius Ruddy
Joseph Ruddy has served as an attorney with the Prince George’s County Office of Law for the past seven years. He currently serves as the primary legal advisor for the Prince George’s County Police Department, a role he assumed in June 2025. Previously, he spent more than six years as deputy county attorney, where he supervised the county’s government operations division and provided legal guidance to all county agencies, including the Prince George’s County Council. Prior to joining the Prince George’s County Office of Law, Ruddy spent 15 years as a prosecutor in the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office. Earlier in his legal career, Ruddy served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ronald D. Schiff in the Prince George's County Circuit Court. Ruddy has shared his expertise as a course instructor for multiple police departments, covering topics that include the Fourth Amendment and expert testimony.
Ruddy earned his law degree from the Catholic University of America.
###