Peter Killough | |
|---|---|
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| Justice of theSupreme Court of Maryland | |
| Assumed office July 31, 2024 | |
| Appointed by | Wes Moore |
| Preceded by | Michele D. Hotten |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1960 (age 64–65) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Spouse | Jamila |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | New York University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1983–1989 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Awards | Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal |
Peter Kevin Killough[1] (born 1960) is an American lawyer who has served as a justice of theSupreme Court of Maryland since 2024. He previously served as an associate judge of the Prince George's County Circuit Court from 2018 to 2024.
Killough was born inDetroit, Michigan, in 1960.[2] He grew up in Michigan, where he played football and baseball.[3] He attendedNew York University, where he served as a member of theNew York Army National Guard[4] and earned aBachelor of Arts degree in history in 1983.[2] Afterwards, Killough served as a captain in theU.S. Army until 1986, during which he received anArmy Commendation Medal withoak leaf cluster and anArmy Achievement Medal. He served as a member of theUnited States Army Reserves while he attended theUniversity of Virginia, where he earned aJuris Doctor degree in 1989.[2]
After graduating from Virginia, Killough was admitted to practice inNew York, theDistrict of Columbia, andMaryland, as well as the U.S. District Courts for theDistrict of Columbia and theDistrict of Maryland. He worked as an attorney forCarter Ledyard & Milburn from 1989 to 2006, afterwards working as a senior attorney for theFord Motor Company until 2008. From 2009 to 2018, Killough worked as an assistant attorney for theAttorney General of Maryland, first as a counsel for the People's Insurance Counsel Division and then as the director of the Maryland Medicaid Fraud Unit.[2][5] In this capacity, Killough challengedAllstate's decision to stop offering new homeowners' policies in coastal parts of the state,[6] advocated for the Maryland Court of Appeals to abandon its practice of deferring to insurance companies' interpretation of policy terms in legal cases,[7] and supported legislation to ban "forced bundling" by insurers.[8]
On November 30, 2017, GovernorLarry Hogan appointed Killough as an associate judge of the Prince George's County Circuit Court from the seventh district.[9] He was sworn in on January 5, 2018.[10] In September 2022, Killough was removed from being the main judge to handle juvenile cases by Prince George's County Administrative JudgeSheila Tillerson Adams following complaints that he was being too lenient on youth offenders.[11][12] In May 2024, he applied to fill the Maryland Supreme Court seat vacancy left by JusticeMichele D. Hotten, who had reached the mandatory retirement age in April.[13] GovernorWes Moore appointed Killough to the Supreme Court on July 26, 2024,[5] and he was sworn in on July 31, 2024.[2] His nomination was confirmed by theMaryland Senate by a vote of 38–2 on February 3, 2025.[14]
Killough is married to his wife, Jamila. Together, they have four children.[10]
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| Preceded by | Justice of theSupreme Court of Maryland 2024–present | Incumbent |
Statewide political officials ofMaryland | ||
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| Supreme Court | ||