Deborah Potter
Deborah Potter was the youngest President in the history of the Anne Arundel County Bar Association. She is an honors graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, and is an accomplished trial lawyer who has handled simple and complex personal injury litigation in all Courts in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. She has attained an "AV" rating by Martindale Hubbell, a nationally recognized law directory which rates lawyers and law offices nationwide. This is the highest possible grade for legal achievement, legal ability and ethical standards, and signifies that Debbie is among the top one percent (1%) of Personal Injury Trial Lawyers in the entire country.
Deborah Potter was in demand as a lawyer for the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund and Nationwide Insurance Company, before limiting her practice to plaintiffs' personal injury cases. Deborah won a $26 million judgment against Ford Motor Company on behalf of her client and brings that same zeal to the Jaklitsch Law Group to handle personal injury cases for injured victims.
In addition to being a renowned trial lawyer, Deborah Potter is very active in both her professional community and her home community. She has served in the Anne Arundel Bar Association since 1990, and has been on the Board of Trustees since 1993, as well as serving as a Chairperson or Officer of the Association since that time. She also serves on the Anne Arundel Bar Foundation Board, a non-profit organization. She has held the position of President on two separate occasions.
She was honored in 2002 receiving the Ed Shea Award for Professionalism from the Maryland State Bar Association. In 2003 Debbie was the recipient of the Anne Arundel County Bar Association Trustees Award.
Deborah Potter has also served on the Maryland State Bar Association Board of Governors, having been one of two representatives from Anne Arundel County, where she lives. Deborah Potter was also elected by her peers to serve on the Judicial Nominating Committee, a committee made up of attorneys and citizens appointed by the Governor to screen all candidates who apply for judicial appointments. The Committee narrows the list of applicants, and sends the recommended candidates to the Governor, who then appoints the Judge from this list.
Deborah Potter was also asked by the Court of Appeals, the highest court of Maryland, to serve on the Rules Committee. This Committee is responsible for reviewing the Maryland Rules of Procedure (the rules which control how litigation is conducted), and to draft or amend the Rules as necessary. The Committee's recommendations are then forwarded to the Court of Appeals for implementation. This Committee meets monthly, and is responsible for both civil and criminal rules. It is probably the most prestigious Committee effecting the Maryland Bar.
Deborah Potter is also a member of the Prince George's County Bar Association and District of Columbia Bar Association, and the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association. She has co-chaired the Legal Aid Equal Justice Council the last two years.
Regarding the community, Deborah Potter has been involved with CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, serving on the Board of Directors for nearly seven years. This organization works with children in the foster care system. She has served as Co-Chairperson of one of their major fundraisers for the past three years. Deborah Potter also serves on the Board of Directors of Summitt School, a private school for dyslexic children, and is dedicated to the University of Maryland, where she obtained her undergraduate and law degree. She has served on the Alumni Associations Board of Trustees, and on their prestigious Hall of Fame Selection Committee. She is also a loyal Terrapin sports fan.
In May 2003 she will take over as President of the Terrapin Club, the national booster group. She has the honor of being the first female president ever.
Debbie is married and has a daughter named Whitney.
