Hon. Charles M. Coles, Jr. is the Chief Judge for the Carroll County Orphans’ Court in Maryland. He was appointed to the position on March 21, 2019.
Coles first joined the Carroll County Orphans’ Court in July 2016. Before that, he sat as a judge for the Howard County Orphans’ Court for sixteen years. He first joined its bench in 1990 and was named the Chief Judge eight years later. Coles remained on the Howard County Orphan’s Court until 2006.
Outside of his judicial career, he has worked as a farmer (since 1977) and is the owner of Coles Bus Service (since 1988).
He attended Catonsville Community College and the University of Maryland, College Park. Coles has also attended Catonsville Realty School and Missouri Auction School.
His memberships have included the Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans’ Court, the National Probate College of Probate Judges, the Howard County Historical Society, and the Howard County School Bus Contractors Association.
Coles was also the superintendent of Farm Crops Dept., sat on the Board of Directors of the Howard County Fair, and was a substitute member of the Howard County Board of Elections.
He is married with three children.
Coles is registered as a Republican.