On Monday, August 4, 2025, WBOC TV16 reported that Gerald Vaughn Purnell, the former Administrative Judge for Maryland’s District Two, faces allegations of official misconduct for allowing a law clerk to receive a full-time salary while working part-time for nearly a decade. The district encompasses Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.
Purnell, who was appointed as an associate judge for Worcester County in 2006 by Governor Robert Erlich, was elevated to the role of Administrative Judge for District Two in 2013. The allegations revolve around a woman referred to only as “B.L.” in an affidavit, who was offered a full-time position as a law clerk in 2015. At that time, she was also employed full-time as a college professor.
According to court documents acquired by WBOC, Purnell allegedly arranged for B.L. to earn a full-time salary while permitting her to work on an as-needed basis. Investigators revealed that after the Maryland Judiciary introduced a new time-keeping system in 2020, B.L. began submitting timecards that recorded a full 40-hour work week under Purnell’s supervision, continuing this practice through 2024.
In total, prosecutors claim that B.L. collected approximately $485,000 during her decade-long employment with Purnell, all while maintaining her full-time position at a local educational institution. The situation drew further scrutiny when the Maryland Judiciary updated its telework policy in 2023, requiring employees to sign an agreement stipulating that telework would be limited to one day per week. Following discussions with Purnell about this new policy, B.L. reportedly declined to sign the agreement.
Concerns regarding B.L.’s employment status escalated when senior members of the Judiciary noticed that no one in District Two was familiar with her, despite her alleged tenure of nearly ten years. After the Judiciary’s Human Resources Department reached out to her, B.L. resigned from her position.
Purnell’s situation worsened in June 2024 when he suffered a stroke. Following this health crisis, he discussed the possibility of resigning with the Chief Judge of the District Court and subsequently submitted his resignation in October 2024.
An extensive investigation conducted by the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor led to the current charges against Purnell. He is now facing a civil citation for official misconduct, specifically for failing to inform the Judiciary about relevant details concerning his law clerk. Court documents indicate that Purnell has been ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 by September.
Source: WBOC TV16
