Prince George's County Clerk of the Circuit Court

"Providing access to Justice for the Citizens of Prince George’s County"

The Honorable Marilynn M. Bland
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland

Steadily and surely, Marilynn Bland has risen from Meridian, Mississippi to the heights of public service in Prince George’s County. Bland’s savvy and determination have catapulted her in 2002 from the post of Legislative Aide to the late Honorable Isaac J. Gourdine (District Eight) to the County Council. She has the distinction of being the first African American elected from District Nine to the Prince George’s County Board of Education (in 1996). Bland was also the first African American and first woman to be elected to the District Nine County Council seat in Prince George’s County in 2002. Bland’s work ethic, compassion for people, and transparency have won her the accolades as "The Council Member Who Cares."

Marilynn Bland started her public service career as an education reformer—winning elections in 1996 and 2000 to the Board of Education. Bland crusaded against fiscal abuse and neglect of providing students with the essentials. She pressured the schools to furnish all students with textbooks for core subjects. U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett’s book The Educated Child hailed Bland as a model of dedication and commitment to education.

Marilynn has been a leader on the Council. In 2007, she chaired the Health, Education and Human Services Committee, the Domestic Violence Task Force Law and Enforcement Sub-Committee. Bland’s effectiveness as a legislator who knew how to tackle difficult issues prompted the Honorable Judge William D. Missouri, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Court, to appoint her to serve alongside Judge Herman Dawson as Vice-Chairperson of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program. In 2008 Bland was elected to serve as the County Council Vice-Chairperson, and on December 2, 2008, she was elected Council Chairperson for Legislative year 2009. In 2010, Bland chaired Rules, General Assembly, and Committee of the Whole (COW), and in this capacity she was responsible for the oversight of General Assembly legislation, County Council and District Council rule changes.

Marilynn Bland counts among her greatest achievements the passage of legislation in 2006 to establish the Prince George’s County Youth Commission, which gives young people the opportunity to participate in the political process and represent the needs of youth to the County Executive and County Council. Bland’s passion for quality education has been her “unspoken priority” as a member of the Council.

Bland’s civic and community involvement is broad based. Her advocacy for seniors, youth, and working people is renowned. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) honored Marilynn Bland as one of the Prince George’s County’s “Women Who Are Making a Difference.” Bland is a member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Association of University Women. In October 2009, the vaunted Washingtonian Magazine named Council Member Marilynn Bland as one of the "100 Most Powerful Women in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area."

Bland earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and Springfield Christian College and Theological Seminary conferred upon her an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. From 1983 to 1986, Bland served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force (Nurse Corps). As a registered nurse, she worked at Greater Southeast Community Hospital, Southern Maryland Hospital Center and Providence Hospital.

Marilynn Bland has two adult children: Justin and Tonya who graduated with their Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Maryland at College Park. Justin also earned a Master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University. Bland is proud that her children are products of Prince George’s County Schools. The Bland family attends Mount Ennon Baptist Church and lives in Clinton Maryland.