O'Malley Appoints PSC Chairman To Judgeship

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Gov. Martin O'Malley has appointed the chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission to be a judge on the state's intermediate appellate court, and the governor has named a new director of public affairs for his administration.

O'Malley announced the appointment of Doug Nazarian to the Court of Special Appeals on Friday. O'Malley also announced in a statement that Stephen Neuman will be his director of public affairs. In September, Neuman was named an adviser to a federal political action committee O'Malley started.

Neuman, who was chief of staff for Barack Obama's winning North Carolina campaign in 2008, replaces Rick Abbruzzese, who left the administration for a lobbying firm.

O'Malley also says he is appointing W. Kevin Hughes, a PSC commissioner, to take Nazarian's place on the PSC.

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