Cheri Nicole Simpkins
Judicial
Jurisdiction Prince George’s County (7)
On November 21, 2023, Governor Moore appointed Judge Cheri N. Simpkins, a
distinguished legal professional, to the Prince George’s County Maryland Circuit Court. On January 4, 2024, Judge Simpkins assumed her esteemed position.
In August 2017, former Governor Larry Hogan appointed Judge Simpkins to the District Court Bench for Prince George’s County, Maryland. She served as a trailblazer in the District Court bench, being the first Afro-Latina/African American to hold this position.
Judge Simpkins was born and raised in New York but spent her formative years in the vibrant city of Miami, Florida. Her values of community, diversity, and inclusivity are greatly influenced by her multicultural heritage. Her Afro-Cuban grandmother immigrated from Havana, Cuba, to New York, while her father was a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Judge Simpkins obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She later pursued her Juris Doctorate at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Judge Simpkins worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney
for 14 years in the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office. During her tenure in the office, she demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, serving as the Chief of the Juvenile Division and Assistant Chief of the District Court Division. Her commitment to protecting the vulnerable was evident in her work in the Special Victims Unit, where she prosecuted cases involving child abuse, sex crimes, infant homicides, child exploitation, and domestic violence.
Judge Simpkins is a co-host for the Schools in Court program in collaboration with the Prince George’s County Public School system. The primary objective of this program is to educate high school students from around Prince George’s County about the consequences of poor decision-making by providing them with firsthand experiences within the courtroom setting.
Judge Simpkins has resided in Prince George’s County for more than twenty years. She remains committed to upholding justice, promoting education, and respecting the values that foster inclusive and diverse communities.