The Hon. Donald E. Beachley is an associate judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Larry Hogan on June 20, 2016, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Robert A. Zarnoch.
Beachley has held assignments on the Family & Domestic Relations Law Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference as well as the Education Committee of the Maryland Judicial Council.
Prior to his appointment, Beachley was an associate judge for the Washington County Circuit Court, a position to which he was named on December 29, 1997. Before that, he spent time as a magistrate for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (1994 to 1997).
Beachley earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Hood College in 1977. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law in 1980.
After graduating from law school, Beachley entered into private practice, working as a partner at Miller, Oliver, Beachley & Stone until his appointment to the Washington County Circuit Court.
His memberships have included the Maryland State Bar Association, the Washington County Bar Association, and the Federal Magistrate Judges Association. He also sat on the Western Maryland Children’s Center Advisory Board.
Beachley was born in Frederick, Maryland.