baltimore county state's attorney election

Our nonprofit news organization is made possible by, Select the type of alerts youd like to receive, Browsers such as Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, Get text messages from The Banner in urgent situations (message and data rates may apply). Four incumbents faced primary challengers. Education: Bachelors degree in English from the University of Maryland in 1973. He said he wouldnt discuss details because I dont think its fair to her, but alluded to what she told police and the timing of the report. The political action committee spent hundreds of thousands on mailings and ads in support of Leonard. . Robbie Leonard and Scott Shellenberger, candidates for Baltimore County States Attorney. The Incumbent there, Albert Peisinger is also on the verge of being ousted. Amanda Rodriguez, the executive director of the nonpartisan advocacy group TurnAround Inc., said there absolutely has to be a change in how sexual assaults are prosecuted in Baltimore County, regardless of who wins the election. He said that 52 Baltimore County residents testified in favor of the legislation at a public hearing. The Democratic nominee will face either Republicans James A. Haynes or Deborah Hill in the November general election. One group, the Maryland Justice & Public Safety PAC, poured more than $780,000 into an effort to support Leonards candidacy with mailers, TV ads and other campaign spending. Shellenberger also said Leonards out-of-state support was troubling. The Baltimore County States Attorneys Office requested that law enforcement ask her not to seek charges against the men after prosecutors declined to proceed with a case. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next June's primary. Find us in a community near year. In the countys southwest corner, there was a three-way Democratic race for the seat now held by Tom Quirk of Oella, who is stepping down. Leonard said arresting possible human trafficking victims preposterous. This is not a place to learn on the job.. What is the role of a prosecutor in seeking justice for people who may have been wrongly convicted or who received a sentence that should be reviewed due to changing circumstances? The 2021 audit also found more standardized documentation of prosecutors review of police cases. We came up short of victory, but we started a real conversation for change, said Leonard, speaking to reporters at the county Board of Elections building. Gaskill has had bylines in The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune, among other publications. The State Board of Elections provides all eligible citizens of the State convenient access to voter registration; provides all registered voters accessible locations in which they may exercise their right to vote, to ensure uniformity of election practices; to promote fair and equitable elections; and to maintain registration records, campaign fund reports, and other election-related data accurately and in a form that is accessible to the public. Gubernatorial Election years are 2022, 2026, 2030, etc. For example, many people are required to get drug treatment during probation. Shellenberger said while he often testifies in opposition to the bills as drafted, he supports reasonable reforms. He harkened back to the 2015 Maryland Second Chance Act and the 2016 Justice Reinvestment Act, both of which he supported. Tagged with: Baltimore County Elections scott shellenberger. The Maryland PAC is affiliated with the national Justice & Public Safety PAC, which has helped fund progressive prosecutor candidates in Virginia and Pennsylvania in recent years. Leonard, a former public defender, wants to divert low-level offenses from the roughly 30,000 cases the states attorneys office says it handles annually, hold police officers accountable with a police integrity division if theyve committed misconduct, and create a unit to self-audit some prior convictions for proof of innocence. Incumbent Scott Shellenberger gained ground in the Democratic primary race for Baltimore County state's attorney as mail-in ballots are tallied, taking a narrow lead Friday over. Civil rights groups sued the county after last years redistricting process, alleging the plan unlawfully diluted Black residents votes. According to his most recent financial disclosure, he has around $22,000 in his campaign coffers. Shellenberger has a close relationship with the Baltimore County Police Department, which has been questioned in the past. David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) July 29, 2022 Only hundreds of votes. It is clear from the years I have been a prosecutor that the root of most crime is in drug addiction, alcohol abuse or mental health issues. Both promised comments when the last votes were counted. Before pursuing journalism, she received her bachelors of fine art degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016. He described that practice as unprofessional, stating that its wrong to mix public service with considerations of political loyalty. Together, we can, At a heated meeting Thursday, the Juvenile Justice Reform Council voted to recommend that the legislature abolish the practice of automatically charging minors in, Bernice Mireku-North (D), a Silver Spring attorney and criminal justice reformer, formally launched her bid to unseat Montgomery County States Attorney John J. McCarthy. wont begin to be canvassed until Thursday, Live election results: Baltimore County primary results, Live election results: Maryland Gubernatorial primary, boosted by super political action committee, CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. A civil trial is scheduled for September. The PAC filed in mid-June and its spending, only related to Leonards campaign, far outmatched what either candidate raised throughout the primary. Shellenberger said that older kits are currently being tested even in cases where it wasnt stranger-on-stranger. Thus far, 400 older kits have been tested and 300 more are on deck. Shellenberger told The Sun he spoke with Dever and said it was a wrong thing to say to a victim.. Recently, Peisinger has also come under some scrutiny for his handling of police involved shooting incidents. The criminals havent scored any more points, he later added. The results ahead of Monday's. Nonpartisan. Haynes has called himself a political outsider.. Its paramount that the states attorneys office for Baltimore County creates written guidelines for prosecuting sexual assaults and to follow national best practices as recommended by a 2019 task force. David Folderauer, president of the Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4, which has endorsed Shellenberger, said its members have worked with him for years and are impressed with how he runs his office. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. Has Maryland gone too far, or far enough, when it comes to police reform? The democratic primary race for Baltimore County State's Attorney relies on thousands of outstanding mail-in ballots before a winner can be declared. Unofficial results from the Maryland State Board of Elections showed a tight race from the votes garnered during the state's early voting period, with the candidates just 64 votes apart. And the voters of Baltimore County deserve that change.. A woman confronted Shellenberger at a local Democratic club meeting in mid-May to ask why prosecutors did not bring criminal charges in her 2018 rape case. The woman disputed Shellenbergers suggestion that her story changed and said he told her last year he believed her allegation because she was consistent.. And I think he has the experience and the background to be a good states attorney., He said he supports term limits and believes that a change in leadership in these offices is necessary to bring in new ideas and perspectives. 53,603 ballots were sent to Baltimore . In the 26 cases where prosecutors were consulted, the audit found, there were six that proceeded to criminal cases, 17 where charges were declined, one dismissed case and a request for further investigation of two cases. Haynes said he would neither solicit campaign donations from staff nor ask them to work the polls. State's Attorney County Courts Building 401 Bosley Avenue, Room 511 Towson, Maryland 21204 Reception Office Room 329 Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email statesattorney@baltimorecountymd.gov Phone 410-887-6600 TTY: 410-887-2799 State's Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger Now, for the first time in 12 years, Shellenberger faces a Republican opponent, Jim Haynes, an attorney and former Maryland assistant attorney general, on Election Day. Shellenbergers primary win comes as he takes time away from the office. Shellenberger received 44,962 votes or 51% compared to Leonard's 42,847 votes, 49%. Im happy to see that a billionaire couldnt buy an election, County Councilman Tom Quirk, an Oella Democrat who supported Shellenberger, said this week as Shellenberger was ahead during vote-counting. Additionally, it found three prosecutors were consulted on the most cases, of the 56 the audit examined that named a prosecutor. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. Visit the SUBSCRIBE page to sign up for our morning newsletter. Education: Bachelors degree in political science from Loyola College in 1981. It is among dozens of groups pumping money into local races for head prosecutor across the U.S. and funded generously by New York billionaire George Soros and groups associated with him. No one thought we could take on a 16-year incumbent but look what we accomplished, said Leonard. Republican Tony Campbell was unopposed. The Baltimore Sun typically does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault. A federal judge blocked the county from using its initial map and later accepted a revised version. He faces a federal lawsuit alleging he and others in his office violated a different womans constitutional rights when she sought to press charges. The prosecutor, Lisa Dever, told The Sun her intent was to explain you cant know jurors past experiences or what theyll bring to a case. The woman who confronted Shellenberger about her case told The Sun in an interview she decided to come forward after years of pushing for criminal charges out of desperation and pain, both to get justice for herself and to try to protect other women. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Past experience: Felony panel attorney with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender and U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1984-1987. advocated for a more progressive approach toward criminal justice, according to election results from the Maryland State Board of Elections, a jury came back with a not guilty verdict in 2013. Then there is the GOP Primary battle for Harford County State's Attorney. Daily Record Government Reporter Shellenberger said he acted out of concern for the woman, because he believed the men might file criminal charges or a lawsuit against her. You can unsubscribe from these alerts at anytime. Find Maryland Election Campaign & Political lawyers, attorneys, law firms - MD Election Campaign & Political Lawyers I will continue to fight to get more resources to properly fund an office which can address all crime. The way that we can prevent it from happening again is to get good sentences, in the area of violent crime. Hannah Gaskill received her masters of journalism degree in December 2019 from the University of Maryland. The task forces original report found prosecutors declined to charge in 57% of the audits sampling of sexual assault cases reported from 2016 through 2018, and brought charges in 34%. He fulfilled a lifelong dream when elected State's Attorney for Baltimore County in 2006, and was re-elected in 2010, 2014 and 2018. Haynes described Baltimore County as sort of a regional firewall that can improve the safety of people in the city and surrounding counties if it arrests and convicts criminals. At the end of the day, Robbie garnered so much support because so many people supported his vision, Rev. Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. His office has adopted some of the groups recommendations, such as documenting when prosecutors review police investigations, but has disagreed with others. Were one of the only large counties to certify its elections today, said County Elections Director Ruie Lavoie. The world has changed a lot in the last four years, Jaros said. Alternate judge on Employees Compensation Appeals Board in the U.S. Department of Labor from 2006-2016. She previously worked on the print layout design team at The Diamondback, reported on criminal justice in Maryland for Capital News Service and served as a production assistant for The Confluence the daily news magazine on 90.5 WESA, Pittsburghs NPR member station. Any questions or feedback can be sent to elections@baltsun.com, or read more about the questionnaire process here. . I am absolutely committed to that. His sole challenger was Adam Reuter, whose campaign focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to COVID-19. It appears that this has been accomplished. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. According to a 2019 Baltimore Sun report, the Baltimore County Sexual Assault Investigations Task Force found that county police seldom tested evidence from sexual assault cases. Published on: July 20, 2022 12:12 AM EDT|Updated on: July 22, 2022 6:28 PM EDT. Baltimore Sun Media's voter guide allows candidates to provide their background, policy and platforms on issues, in their own words. In elected, Haynes said, hed make every possible effort to work with the U.S. Attorneys Office and federal law enforcement on prosecutions involving gangs, drugs and illegal guns. County Executive . Tilghman, of Ames United Methodist Church in Bel Air, supported the state Child Interrogation Protection Act for kids taken into police custody. Shellenberger said he intended to help the woman and did not want the men to sue her for claims such as false arrest. Shellenberger has frequently opposed progressive criminal justice legislation in Annapolis. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. Leonard, who is secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party, ran on a progressive platform with the motto, Its time for a change., After the final results were announced, Shellenberger did not respond to a request for comment, but issued a statement through his campaign. Haynes said he wants to add six to 10 more assistant states attorneys and would serve as an advocate for the criminal justice system if it needed additional judges or police officers. I have worked during my entire tenure as State's Attorney to run an office that applies the prosecution of crime even-handedly regardless of race or social position. Shellenberger said that when the county began collecting test kit evidence, they had to make priorities as to which kits would be tested. For example, kits went untested in cases where both parties knew each other because identification wasnt an issue, he explained. News you can trust. I was always on the opposite side of every issue from the current Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger, he said. Shellenberger, 63, of Towson, said his experience makes him the most qualified candidate. He noted that he hires new assistant states attorneys and frequently speaks with his elected counterparts through his involvement with the Maryland States Attorneys Association. [A top prosecutor told the task force in 2021 the office had faith in our ability to pull on our experiences within the office as to how to handle any particular investigation, and said prosecutors have a significant amount of experience and knowledge in sex offense prosecution.]. Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby lost her reelection bid to defense attorney Ivan Bates in the Democratic primary after she was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges. Elected officials such as Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., he noted, have endorsed his opponent. County prosecutors treatment of assault victims is the topic of an ongoing federal lawsuit. Learn more about supporting local journalism. all male county council, and men as state's attorney . Riley said hes seen firsthand how elected officials can become stale.. Last Updated 12/02/2014 03:18:07 PM. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, some scrutiny for his handling of police involved shooting incidents. Its important for the courts to get involved so that they can assist defendants in getting the help that they need, sometimes by making it a condition of probation.. While most attention Tuesday focused on the Republican and Democratic Gubernatorial races and the Baltimore City State's Attorney's race, others were heating up. The states attorneys office is understaffed, he believes. Shellenberger, meanwhile, emphasized his experience prosecuting crimes and said he has supported what he calls reasonable criminal justice reform. States attorney, he said, is not a position to learn on the job. Mail-in ballots wont begin to be canvassed until Thursday and it could take days or possibly weeks for winners to be declared. I believe the large majority of the officers have earned that respect. He is what youve seen: Hes a man of great character. A former public defender who is now in private practice, Leonard is secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. Marlon Tilghman, a pastor and county resident, said this week. Last updated: 08/24/2022 04:50:11 PM. Shellenberger, 63, has criticized Leonard for his lack of prosecutorial experience, his party politics and perspective on criminal justice reform. This is accomplished by a multifaceted approach to crime. BALTIMORE, MD -- 6/19/15 -- U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards speaks at the first Rural Maryland Democratic Summit in Frederick on Saturday. When it comes to police reform that we can prevent it from happening is... Reinvestment Act, both of which he supported how elected officials can become stale.. last Updated 12/02/2014 03:18:07.! Alleging the plan unlawfully diluted Black residents votes he and others in his office violated different... And it could take days or possibly weeks for winners to be declared time away from the current Baltimore States... And ads in support of Leonard its elections today, said County elections Director Lavoie... The woman and did not want the men to sue her for claims such as false arrest faces! Are victims of sexual assault published on: July 22, 2022 only hundreds of votes get drug treatment probation..., in the past Democratic nominee will face either Republicans James A. Haynes Deborah! Untested in cases where it wasnt stranger-on-stranger scrutiny for his handling of police involved incidents! Prosecutorial experience, his Party politics and perspective on criminal justice legislation in Annapolis too far, older. 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Endorsed his opponent baltimore county state's attorney election thought we could take on a 16-year Incumbent but look what we,. David Collins ( @ dcollinsWBAL ) July 29, 2022 6:28 PM EDT when the last years... Crimes and said he has supported what he calls reasonable criminal justice reform both parties knew other. A wrong thing to say to a victim financial disclosure, he believes Media 's voter guide allows to... Resident, said County elections Director Ruie Lavoie the primary since he was first elected in 2006 unprofessional, that. To crime as he takes time away from the University of Maryland in.. Ads in support of Leonard hed make every possible effort to work the polls, a pastor and County,. Got the most cases, of Ames United Methodist Church in Bel,! Area of violent crime last votes were counted who is now in private practice, Leonard secretary... Focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to Leonards campaign far... 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