PORTRAIT UNVEILING OF THE HONORABLE J. WILLIAM HINKEL by Vanessa Vescio On April 14, 2016, it was a beautiful Spring day when many members of the BCBA, judges, both retired and sitting, attorneys, both public and private, court personnel, both past and present, gathered with family and friends of Judge J. William Hinkel to witness the unveiling of his judicial portrait. Commissioned and funded by the generous contributions of individual donors listed in the ceremony's program, his portrait will be added to the growing collection of judicial portraits already hanging in the Circuit Court.* The Honorable Kathleen G. Cox, presided over the order of the ceremony. She warmly welcomed everyone to this special event and acknowledged the artist of the portrait, Katherine Meredith. Private practitioner and BCBA Past President, Dominick Garcia, gave a moving invocation and in it described Judge Hinkel as God's "good and faithful servant."
The Honorable John F. Fader II, was the first of three speakers who reminded everyone of the man and the judge that the Honorable J. William Hinkel was in life. He began by introducing Judge Hinkel's family members who (with few exceptions) were able to be in attendance - his wife, Carole Hinkel; his children, Stephen and Tricia Hinkel, Laura and Thomas Bender, and Jean and Hugh Gleaves; his grandchildren, Colleen Teufel, Nadia Benbernou, Brian and Chastity Teufel; and his greatgrandchildren, Nathan Teufel and Jake Teufel. THE ADVOCATE
Judge Fader fondly remembered his "friend and ticket mate" through personal stories and observations. Judge Hinkel, born and raised in East Baltimore, a product of the City school system, notably City College and the University of Baltimore, received his law degree, summa cum laude, also from the University of Baltimore. In 1959, he started practicing law while also working as a claims adjuster. He had a political career in the House of Delegates and was appointed People’s Council to the Public Service Commission. In 1971, when the District Court of Maryland was created, Judge Hinkel was appointed to the bench and became the first Administrative Judge for Baltimore County. Then, when the legislature created two new judgeships in 1981, he and Judge Fader were both appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore County by Governor Harry Hughes. Upon his death in July of 2009, Judge Fader noted that many people were quoted in the Sun Paper giving Judge Hinkel "the great tribute he so deserved." He was "a man of deep religious convictions and integrity," Judge Fader
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May 2016