Zuckerman Spaeder Congratulates Former Partner Adam Abelson on Senate Confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Zuckerman Spaeder congratulates former partner Adam Abelson on his confirmation to serve as a District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Judge Abelson was nominated to this post by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in May and confirmed by the U.S. Senate yesterday.

Judge Abelson served as a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder before being appointed to serve as a Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in the fall of 2023. His tenure at the firm spanned 11 years, beginning in the firm’s Washington, DC office as an associate in 2012, shifting to Baltimore in 2014, and being elected to partner at the firm in 2020. 

Martin S. Himeles, Jr., Baltimore office managing partner, reflected, “I have known and worked closely with Judge Abelson for more than a decade, and his intellect, experience, fair-mindedness, and human decency, among other qualities, will make him a superb U.S. District Judge. His experience in private practice was remarkably broad, encompassing varied criminal and civil litigation as well as government investigations. I am confident that he will have no difficulty handling any matter that might appear on the diverse docket of a district judge.” 

"Throughout our time working together, Judge Abelson demonstrated exceptional legal acumen, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing,” said partner Catherine S. Duval. “He has a deep grasp of the law and complex issues, which he balances with fairness and compassion. I know Judge Abelson will continue his public service with distinction and honor in this new role. This is a tremendous achievement, and I am confident his colleagues and the people who appear before him will greatly benefit from his wisdom, intellect, and fundamental decency."

Throughout his career in private practice, Judge Abelson maintained an active pro bono practice, a reflection of a deep-rooted commitment to justice, and was always deeply involved in the community and in the legal profession. He served as the Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA)’s Working Group on Building Public Trust in the American Justice System and served on the board of the Job Opportunities Task Force.

For his commitment to his clients and community, Judge Abelson has received several prestigious recognitions in recent years, including from The American Lawyer, the Maryland Daily Record, and the Baltimore Business Journal.

Earlier in his career, Judge Abelson served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Andre M. Davis of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Hon. Catherine C. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the New York University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Princeton University.