Division of Health & Human Services Staff Attorneys

Elizabeth C. Evans, Division Chief

Received B.A. in Philosophy, cum laude, from Lock Haven State University (1974); J.D. from the Temple University School of Law (1978). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1979; joined the County Attorney's Office in 1998. Also admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court (2000) and Pennsylvania (1978, inactive). Member of the Montgomery County Bar Association: Chair, Juvenile Law Section (1996), Montgomery County Chapter of the Women's Bar Association: Steering Committee (1981-83). Previously in private practice in Montgomery County (1979-98). Chief of the Division of Health and Human Services.

Ramona Bell-Pearson, Associate County Attorney

Received B.S. degree from Vanderbilt University (1981); J.D. from the Howard University School of Law (1987). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1987; joined the County Attorney's Office in 2001. Also admitted to practice in the U. S. District Court for Maryland. Member of the Maryland and Montgomery County Bar Associations. Previously an Assistant County Attorney for Montgomery County (1990-1998) advising the Montgomery County Police Department. Agency Counsel to the Child Welfare Division and the Behavioral Health Division of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Deborah F. Kearse, Assistant County Attorney

Received B.A. in Organizational Communication from New York University (1994); J.D. from The George Washington University Law School (2000). Admitted to the Maryland Bar (2000); joined the County Attorney's Office in 2005. Member of the Montgomery County, Maryland, and American Bar Associations. Previously with the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, Child Advocacy Unit (2001-2005). Area of concentration includes Child and Adult Protective Services.

Silvia C. Kinch, Assistant County Attorney

Received B.A. in English from The George Washington University (1998); J. D. from University of Baltimore (2002). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2002; joined the County Attorney's Office in 2003. Member of the American, Maryland, Hispanic, Women's, and Montgomery County Bar Associations. Former Associate of the Inns of Court, Montgomery County (2003-2004). Previously law clerk to the Honorable John W. Debelius, Circuit Court for Montgomery County. Areas of concentration includes child protective services, public health, and aging and disability services.

Peggy R. Odick, Associate County Attorney

Received B.A. with highest honors from Goucher College (1975); J.D. with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law (1978); Certificate in Thanatology from Hood College (2000). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1978; joined the County Attorney's Office in 1999.  Member of the Montgomery County and Women’s Bar Associations. Serves as a volunteer with the Montgomery County Humane Society. Member, Board of Zoning Appeals for Washington Grove. Member of the Child and Adult Protective Services Unit. 

Jodi Schulz, Assistant County Attorney

Received B.A., magna cum laude, in Criminal Justice from the University of Hartford in December, 1996. Received J.D. from the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law in May, 2000. Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2000. Member of the Maryland, Women's and Montgomery County Bar Associations. Served as Judicial Law Clerk to all four Circuit Court Judges in the Circuit Court for Frederick County, Maryland from August 2000-August 2001.

Loretta E. Shapero, Associate County Attorney

Received B.S. from Cornell University (1979); J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law (1986). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1986; joined the County Attorney's Office in 1994. Also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for Maryland (1987). Member of the Montgomery County Bar Association. Previously an Associate at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston (1987-1994); Appellate Clerk to the Honorable Alan M. Wilner, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland (1986-1987). Previous experience in land use, condemnation, historical preservation and business litigation. Areas of concentration are child welfare and family and youth services.