LEONARDTOWN, MD – The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) are proud to recognize the Honorable Kevin R. Hill, Associate Judge of the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County, for being named the 2026 Top Leader in Law by The Daily Record.
The Leaders in Law awards, presented by The Daily Record in partnership with the Maryland State Bar Association, recognize attorneys and judges who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the legal profession and a strong commitment to strengthening their communities.
The Top Leader in Law distinction represents the highest honor within the publication’s annual Leaders in Law awards program. Selected through a rigorous two-step process, an independent panel of legal and business leaders first identifies Leaders in Law honorees based on professional accomplishment, community service, and mentoring. Those honorees then vote by secret ballot to determine the Top Leader in Law. With more than 42,000 attorneys licensed in Maryland, fewer than 2% have been recognized through this program over the past 25 years, underscoring the significance of this achievement.
Judge Hill expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I am deeply honored to be recognized as the 2026 Top Leader in Law by my fellow honorees. This distinction is not a culmination, but a reminder of the responsibility we carry as public servants. I accept it with gratitude and with a renewed commitment to serve the citizens of St. Mary’s County with integrity, fairness, and dedication both inside and outside of the courtroom.”
Judge Hill was appointed to the Circuit Court bench in 2025 after serving as a family magistrate, where he presided over domestic matters including custody, child support, and family recovery court cases. Prior to his judicial service, he worked as both an assistant state’s attorney for St. Mary’s County and an assistant public defender with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender.
“This is an extraordinary honor and a reflection of Judge Hill’s leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public service,” said Commissioner President Randy Guy. “To be selected by peers from across Maryland as the Top Leader in Law speaks volumes about the respect he has earned within the legal community and the impact of his work here in St. Mary’s County.”
In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Hill has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentorship and professional development. He founded the Southern Maryland Young Lawyers Initiative, a regional mentorship program connecting law students and early-career attorneys with experienced legal professionals. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus and is the immediate past president of the St. Mary’s County Bar Association.
For more information about the Leaders in Law program, please visit The Daily Record’s website at: https://thedailyrecord.com/event/leaders-in-law.
