---
title: "Howard Ray Cheris | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/howard-ray-cheris-md"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Howard Ray Cheris

District Court for Montgomery · Judge

## Profile

- Court: District Court for Montgomery
- State: Maryland
- Role: Judge
- Service status: expected
- Appointment: Appointed on October 2, 2026. [District Court for Montgomery](https://knowjudges.com/kyj/court/md/district-court-for-montgomery)

## Summary

Howard Ray Cheris — District Court for Montgomery

## Biography

### Professional career

- Contract attorney, Montgomery County Public Defender's Office

### Education

- American University, Washington College of Law — J.D.

### Additional information

- Appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore in October 2026 to the Montgomery County District Court, bringing over two decades of civil and criminal litigation experience to the bench
- He joined ACAP Law in 2007 after 17 years as a private practitioner focusing on civil and criminal litigation
- Known for his work in criminal defense
- One of four attorneys appointed to the Montgomery County District Court, alongside Jason Brian Abbott, Rolando Julio Aleman, and Seth Bradley Zucker.
- representing clients charged with murder, violent felonies, and a range of criminal and traffic misdemeanors, as well as handling personal injury, workers’ compensation, estate litigation, and business matters.
- He has extensive jury experience and has argued cases before Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, as well as in all levels of criminal litigation
- Lead partner and managing member, Armstrong, Cheris and Page, LLC
- Before joining the judiciary, Howard R. Cheris was the lead partner and managing member of Rockville-based Armstrong, Cheris and Page, and previously held the role of lead partner at ACAP Law.

## Sources

- [Governor Moore Announces Judicial Appointments to Baltimore City Circuit Court and Montgomery County Circuit and District Courts](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-announces-judicial-appointments-baltimore-city-circuit-court-and-montgomery-county)
- [Maryland Judicial Vacancies](https://www.mdcourts.gov/judgeselect/judicialvacancy)

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