Hill Named Top Leader in Law by Daily Record
St. Mary’s County Associate Circuit Court Judge Kevin R. Hill has been 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.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized as the 2026 Top Leader in Law by my fellow honorees,” Judge Hill said. “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.
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.
The Daily Record is a digital first, daily news media company focused on law, government, and business. The Daily Record publishes a print edition on weekdays in addition to more than 25 special products a year in a variety of industries including Power Lists.
