By Gwen-Marie Davis 

It is my honor and privilege to serve as President of the Maryland Association for Justice. This is a historic year for our organization, and I am honored to carry the torch forward this year for our organization. I am confident that this will continue to be a great year!  

I am so pleased to witness the energy, passion, and positivity that is reverberating throughout our membership and beyond.  Thank you to everyone who attended or supported our 70th President’s Dinner. It was such a great and historic event for our organization. Congratulations again to all our outstanding honorees! 

My presidential term is off to a great start. I am pleased to share that on June 20, 2024, Maryland’s Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure voted to expand the purpose of the preliminary examination of jurors. I am thankful to my predecessor, the voir dire committee and co-chairs, and the legislative team for the invaluable efforts.  

For those who are getting to know me, let me take a moment to tell you about myself. My grandparents and parents deposited a rich legacy of greatness and a strong work ethic that has been passed down to me. My parents sacrificed to ensure I received the best education and knew the value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.  I plan to pour the same values and hard work into this organization.   

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. Even though I misspelled it on a class assignment when I was 7 years old, it was always a dream for me. My dream of becoming a lawyer was also fueled by the entrepreneurial spirit I possessed as a child.   From an early age, I affectionately remember starting a candy business with my siblings and starting a business selling golf balls that returned 100% profit. So naturally when I became a lawyer, the entrepreneur route was an instinctive and logical course for me, so I eventually started GDH Law.  

As MAJ celebrates our 70th year, I fondly recall meeting many of the organization’s past presidents and learning more about the history of this organization.  I learned about Max Israelson, the first President of this organization, and many other greats who helped to make MAJ a prominent and influential organization. I also learned more about how the presence of trial lawyers in Annapolis has blossomed over the years and is a formidable force in Annapolis.  

We are the largest specialty bar association in Maryland. Our Continuing Legal Education programs are absolutely fantastic! When I think back to all the legends and legal giants that helped to make the MAJ what it is over the past 70 years, I am in awe of what this organization has accomplished. I marvel at the THEN and NOW of the MAJ! Diversity comes in many forms: diversity of legal practice area, geography, thought, color, religion, gender, etc. I am proud to be a part of an organization that has been a champion for diversity.  A diverse legal community strengthens the profession by providing perspectives that promote innovative approaches to lawyering and better reflects our society.    

I am equally proud to be the first of many minority presidents of this wonderful organization.  We will continue MAJ’s momentum at our state capitol and beyond. We must continue to protect the 7th Amendment and the right to a jury trial. The Maryland Standing Committee on Rules just expanded the purpose of the preliminary examination of jurors, and we will continue to fight for the underdog.  I also plan on prioritizing increasing membership and working with the board on a strategic plan for the organization's future.  

As I stated in my installation speech, there is a legacy of greatness that has been passed to me. Legacies never die—because torches are passed! I plan on leaving a lasting legacy on this organization that we all will benefit from. I am so proud to be holding this torch as your President and look forward to carrying the mission of MAJ forward. 

So, I ask: are you ready to have the torch passed to you? When you get the torch, carry it well! We need everyone to get off the sidelines and carry the torch!   

Take care of your clients and carry the torch! They need you to fight the Goliaths in the courtroom and carry the torch! I want to remind the MAJ members: your legacies never die! Your impact will be felt for generations to come. Torches are passed – so, carry the Torch! 

The generations before have passed the torch to me and I am excited to carry the torch—as your new President and leave a legacy, that will never die! 

Biography 

Gwen-Marie Davis is the founding and managing partner at GDH LAW Firm headquartered in Prince George’s County with offices in Lanham, MD and Montgomery County, MD. She prides herself in providing excellent legal counsel, knowledge, energy and vigor to fight for her clients. She is a compassionate attorney but will FIGHT for them. Most clients who hire her ultimately are repeat clients or refer friends and family to GDH LAW. Referrals from existing and former clients are a testimonial to the quality of legal representation clients receive when they hire her. 

Ms. Davis graduated in 2006 from the University of Baltimore School of Law, after which she was a judicial law clerk for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. She has a way of making her clients feel comfortable and holding their hands throughout the entire litigation process. 

She was raised and lived in Prince George’s County, Maryland, for over 30 years. She is honored to serve the residents of her hometown Prince George’s County, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Montgomery and surrounding counties. 

She is honored to have been selected as a Maryland Super Lawyer, in which only 2.5% of attorneys are selected and awarded as a Super Lawyer. She was also recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Association by Top 40 Under 40.