SNOW HILL, MD — A Greenbelt woman is facing serious allegations of official misconduct after prosecutors say she accepted nearly $500,000 in taxpayer-funded salary over a decade while barely showing up to her job as a law clerk — all while working full-time elsewhere.
According to court documents obtained by WBOC, Bridget Lowrie was hired as a full-time law clerk in 2015 by then-District Two Administrative Judge Gerald Vaughn Purnell. At the time, Purnell reportedly agreed to let Lowrie work only as needed, despite her full-time salary status.
Dual Employment, Double Pay
Investigators with the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor allege that throughout her tenure as a District Two law clerk, Lowrie was also employed full-time by Chesapeake College and served as an adjunct professor at another institution, teaching criminal justice courses.
Despite these commitments, prosecutors say Lowrie received a total of $485,000 in salary from the Maryland Judiciary over a period of approximately 10 years. During that time, she failed to comply with updated policies regarding outside employment and teleworking implemented by the Judiciary.
An Unseen Employee Raises Red Flags
Concerns about Lowrie’s employment status reportedly came to light on June 7, 2024, when Judiciary officials discovered that several District Two employees had never seen or heard of her — despite her official role as a full-time law clerk for nearly a decade.
Just days later, on June 12, the Judiciary’s Human Resources Department reached out to Lowrie for clarification. She resigned from the position the very next day.
Civil Citation and Misconduct Findings
Following an internal investigation, Bridget Lowrie was issued a civil citation for official misconduct on July 24, 2024. She has been ordered to pay $10,000 in fines by September.
Prosecutors emphasized that while Lowrie benefited financially from her position, she allegedly failed to perform the duties associated with the job — a violation of public trust and a misuse of taxpayer funds.
Judge Also Under Scrutiny
The investigation also named former Administrative Judge Gerald Vaughn Purnell, who was cited for official misconduct for his role in hiring and continuing to employ Lowrie under irregular terms.
As Administrative Judge for District Two, Purnell oversaw district courts across Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. According to investigators, he authorized Lowrie’s full-time salary while allowing her to work without adhering to regular schedules or reporting requirements.
Broader Implications
This case highlights concerns about oversight and accountability within Maryland’s judicial system. While both Lowrie and Purnell face consequences for their actions, watchdogs and public officials are expected to review internal controls to prevent similar abuse of public funds in the future.
No criminal charges have been filed as of yet, but further scrutiny into outside employment and remote work practices within the Judiciary is likely to follow.
For now, Lowrie has until September to pay the $10,000 fine, a small fraction of the nearly half-million dollars in salary she collected while allegedly working elsewhere.
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