It’s been a busy week for newly appointed State’s Attorney Ella Disharoon, as she makes the transition from deputy state’s attorney.

Last week, she was sworn in to replace State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello who, at an investiture on Friday, took the oath as judge of Wicomico County Circuit Court.

Disharoon named Attorney Patrizia Coletta deputy state’s attorney and will hire two new employees, one to fill Coletta’s position and another to succeed just-retired Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Joel Todd.

“My inclination is to hire someone with prosecutorial experience to replace Joel,” Disharoon said.

No changes are planned in the structure of the office, she said, since that was a joint effort with Maciarello and works nicely.

“I see my post as seeking justice. That’s our primary goal,” Disharoon told the Salisbury Independent.

“My duties will change some, because I’ll have total administration of the office as opposed to the limited role I played as Matt’s deputy. I’ll have department head meetings. There will more of a community aspect,” she said.

“As deputy I was more of a trial attorney. I don’t want for that to change dramatically but the time constraints that you feel as State’s Attorney don’t allow for as many trials. I’m still keeping a really heavy case load, as least for now,” she said.

The 45-year-old Delmar native and mother of three began her higher education at Wor-Wic Community College, then transferred to Salisbury University, where she earned a master’s degree in political science. She earned a juris doctorate degree at the University of Maryland, and met Maciarello there.

After they graduated from law school, Maciarello worked for Hearne & Bailey, and Disharoon was employed by Judge William Simpson.

“We had classes together in law school and found out we were from the same area. We both came back to Salisbury. He did civil law and I did criminal. I went to the State’s Attorney’s Office in 2004.

“I’d see him in the parking garage behind Hearne & Bailey and every morning we said hello. The next thing I knew he was my boss,” Disharoon said.

The two friends have spoken this week and Maciarello told her how excited he is in his new position.

Speaking at the investiture, Disharoon called him a loving husband and father who is “just a surfer boy at heart.”

“I’ve considered you to be a friend and I wish you the best of luck,” Disharoon told Maciarello, as he smiled and the audience applauded.