Katie Curran O’Malley is no stranger to public service. For more than 20 years, she sat on the bench of the Baltimore City District Court, hearing thousands of cases that ran the gamut of human experience. Before that, she worked as a prosecutor, learning the rhythms of the courtroom and the often messy realities of people’s lives. And, of course, for eight years she was Maryland’s First Lady, a role that put her in the public eye as her husband, Martin O’Malley, served as governor.
But titles alone don’t capture Katie O’Malley. Speak with her, and what comes through most is a mix of warmth and conviction. She is at ease talking about the law, about women’s rights, about her family, and especially about service. A belief in service that drew her to her newest role: Executive Director of the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, headquartered right here in Towson.
A Life in the Law
O’Malley’s legal career has been grounded in people, not paperwork. On the bench, she often saw what happened when individuals walked into court without representation, women navigating custody battles alone, employees unsure of their workplace rights, survivors of abuse facing their abusers without an advocate at their side. “It stays with you,” she said. “As a judge, you can do your best to be fair. But you also realize how uneven things can be when someone doesn’t have a lawyer, when they don’t even know what the law says they’re entitled to.” That perspective is part of what excites her about the Women’s Law Center. “This is about bridging that gap,” O’Malley said. “Making sure women don’t feel like they’re out there on their own.”
From Courtroom to Community Leadership
Transitioning from the bench to nonprofit leadership is no small shift, but O’Malley sees it as a natural progression. After years of making judgments based on the law, she is now in a position to help shape the services that give women the tools to navigate that very system. “It feels like a continuation,” she explained. “In court, I was working case by case. Here, I have the chance to help at a different level, to make sure the resources are there, to grow the programs, to expand access. It’s still about service, just through a different lens.”
Honoring the Trailblazers
One of the first things O’Malley points out in conversation is that the Women’s Law Center is not new. It was founded in the 1970s by a group of pioneering women who wanted to open doors that had long been closed in the legal profession and beyond. “This organization exists because of the women who came before me,” O’Malley said. “They had the vision and the courage to create it. My role is about carrying that work forward.” She lights up when talking about those early trailblazers — the attorneys who filed groundbreaking lawsuits on behalf of women, the advocates who set up hotlines long before such resources were common. Their courage, she says, remains a guidepost for her own work. She specifically mentioned Sally Gold, who recently passed away, as well as Kathleen O’Farrell Friedman and Carol Smith for their contributions.
Meeting Marylanders Where They Are
Though she emphasizes the legacy, O’Malley is also focused on today’s challenges. Economic uncertainty, changing workplaces, and the lasting impact of the pandemic have left many women in vulnerable situations. The Women’s Law Center responds to those realities with programs like its Employment Law Hotline, which helps people understand issues like discrimination, wrongful termination, and unemployment benefits. Federal workers, contractors, and others caught up in recent job changes have found guidance there. “For someone who’s just lost a job, or is being treated unfairly at work, that phone call can mean the difference between despair and a plan forward,” O’Malley said. “It’s a reminder that the law can be a tool for fairness, not just a barrier.”
Unfortunately the Center with its current level of funding and resources cannot keep up with the demand for the services. “We get phone calls every day from people asking for help, and we have to turn some people away.”
When asked what WLC could use the most O’Malley answered “funding” and “volunteers”. Individuals or groups looking to help can make donations directly through the Center’s website as well as a place where attorneys can find out about opportunities to volunteer.
A Local Connection
For Towson residents, there’s an added layer of pride that this statewide organization is rooted right here in our community. O’Malley sees that local connection as powerful. “It means when you look at the Women’s Law Center, you’re not looking at something abstract,” she said. “It’s right here, part of our town, part of our community fabric.” That sense of place is important to her. Though she’s often been in the spotlight on a statewide stage, O’Malley is quick to emphasize that her focus now is grounded, local, and personal.
Looking Ahead As she settles into her role, O’Malley talks about growth, not just for the organization, but for the people it serves. She wants more women to know their rights, more communities to feel supported, and more Marylanders to see that the law is something that can protect and empower.
“At the end of the day, it’s about dignity,” she said. “Every woman deserves to have her voice heard and her rights protected. That’s the work we’re doing, and I feel honored to be part of it.”
