She grew up in Ocean City. Why would we deny the fact that mail that told voters exactly what the differences between the candidates were the good things about me, the things the incumbent needed to improve upon, said Leonard. But he and his prosecutors have faced questions about their decision-making on charging perpetrators, particularly when the victim did not report an assault right away or was intoxicated when it happened. On the final day of counting,. www.thebaltimorebanner.com 2022 The Baltimore Banner. State Del. On Tuesday, Bates, 54, of Locust Point, was elected as the next Baltimore state's attorney. Haynes said he would neither solicit campaign donations from staff nor ask them to work the polls. In the state's attorney race, incumbent Scott Shellenberger has maintained a lead in recent days over challenger Robbie Leonard as mail-in votes are tallied. 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.. Find Maryland Election Campaign & Political lawyers, attorneys, law firms - MD Election Campaign & Political Lawyers Law Clerks are assigned to work in one of the trial units. Nonprofit. He has emphasized positive steps made in response to criticisms, such as increased testing of rape kits. I was involved actively in that process at both the County and State level. The Department of Justice has an important role in . Some voters, though, said they were discouraged from voting for Leonard after receiving a slew of mailers in the waning weeks of the primary from a super political action committee excoriating Shellenbergers reluctance to prosecute sexual assault crimes and charge police officers who fatally shoot civilians. County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., who was elected in 2018, faced little competition in the Democratic race. Haynes brought up the allegations in the lawsuit that led to the recent settlement. John Lee is a reporter for WYPR covering Baltimore County. He is what youve seen: Hes a man of great character. ), Voting stations are set up for the primary election at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Monday, June 22, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. With one polling place designated for Louisville on Tuesday, voters who didnt cast mail-in ballots could potentially face long lines in Kentuckys unprecedented primary election. Members of the BCSAO Honors Law Clerk Program are full-time benefitted employees of the BCSAO. Apr 2013 - Sep 20141 year 6 months. 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. He unseated the two-term incumbent, Marilyn Mosby, in the Democratic primary and did not face a challenger in the general election. By signing up for alerts, I agree to The Baltimore Banner's Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy and to receive news alerts and other communications from The Baltimore Banner. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next Junes primary. In one meeting, according to the woman, who is Black, a prosecutor cited a past sexual assault case where the victim also was a Black woman. Retired from the US Department of Labor as Appellate . Haynes was leading the race as ballots were starting to be counted Tuesday night. McDonough faces a misdemeanor theft charge in connection with allegations he stole a Badillo campaign sign in Parkville. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Ad Choices. Leonard said he got tired of the status quo following the killing of George Floyd last year in Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer. James A. Haynes. 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. For those who are guilty and a Judge has decided the appropriate sentence, we cannot ignore and must be sensitive to the victims. Robbie Leonard, an attorney in private practice who is challenging Shellenberger in Tuesdays Democratic primary, said that if elected, he would want to improve trauma-informed strategies used by staff and attorneys who communicate with victims, and to collaborate with groups that advocate for survivors. He said at the time that law enforcement has limited resources, and often a rape suspects identity is not in question because the victim and perpetrator know each other. Tilghman, of Ames United Methodist Church in Bel Air, supported the state Child Interrogation Protection Act for kids taken into police custody. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next June's primary. While some dismissed Leonard as a long-shot candidate and were stunned by the initial results, other observers believed the contest would be close, especially toward the end of the campaign. represented state employee retirees in a lawsuit, Progressive Groups Endorse Robbie Leonard for Baltimore County States Attorney, Reform Council Recommends Ending Policy of Automatically Charging Some Youth as Adults, Mireku-North Launches Challenge to Montgomery County States Attorney, Moore joins with dignitaries at wreath laying ceremony before inauguration as states first Black governor, Moore faces great expectations and the weight of history as he takes office, Ahead of Moores inauguration as first Black governor, another first reflects, As Moore is inaugurated, the Black leaders who backed him are as enthusiastic as ever, Dayvon Love: Lets kill the woke straw man argument, Biden speaks of redeeming Americas soul during visit to Martin Luther Kings hometown church, Political Notes: Four more for the Moore team, plus the roster of Black Caucus leaders and an MLK Day fair housing event, Former delegate pleads guilty to misconduct in office for misusing state funds to pay for Middle River cottage, Consultants tell work group cannabis sales in Maryland could reach $1B after its legal. He faces a federal lawsuit alleging he and others in his office violated a different womans constitutional rights when she sought to press charges. With roughly 35,000 Baltimore County ballots yet to be counted, the Democratic primary for state's attorney was extremely close Tuesday night, with hundreds of votes separating attorney and Maryland Democratic Party Secretary Robbie Leonard and longtime incumbent Scott Shellenberger. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Olszewski had a wide lead in initial returns. As states attorney, Shellenberger said, he constantly makes changes. WYPR - 88.1 FM Baltimore | I do not believe the facts that you revealed the first time to the police amount to a crime in the state of Maryland.. Education: Bachelors degree in English from the University of Maryland in 1973. We cannot, however, pursue cases which cannot be proven. Shellenberger painted Leonard, who has never been a prosecutor, as unprepared for the office. Soros has funded progressive prosecutor candidates around the country. I always wondered, like, how is this states attorney a Democrat? Alternate judge on Employees Compensation Appeals Board in the U.S. Department of Labor from 2006-2016. The district covering areas such as Overlea, Parkville, Rosedale and Towson drew five candidates, the most of any district. Law Clerks are an essential part of the office. This is not a place to learn on the job.. His office issued a statement Thursday saying he plans to return the week after next, and is still in consistent contact with staff and making management decisions. July 29, 2022. He was ahead as votes started to be counted Tuesday night. I accept that. The office has declined to create written guidelines for review and prosecution of sexual offenses or to put in place the national best practices compiled by the task force. His last Republican challenger in the general election was in 2010. We cannot ignore, however, that there are victims of low-level offenses also. The world has changed a lot in the last four years, Jaros said. Baltimore County voters have made their selections in primary races for states attorney, the County Council and county executive ahead of the November general contest. 72. The 16-year incumbent released a statement . Republican Tony Campbell was unopposed. 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. Learn more about supporting local journalism. As precinct ballots were tallied, Leonard maintained the marginal lead of 860 votes over Shellenberger, who had gone unchallenged in the primary race for his seat since the "tough on crime" prosecutor was . We will see with time if the appropriate balance has been reached. . outside money that supported Leonards candidacy, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Assistant attorney general and then trial attorney who handled insurance defense work for the same agency under different names, the State Accident Fund, Injured Workers Insurance Fund, and currently Chesapeake Employers Insurance, from 1987-2006. He said he feels that he has a greater diversity of experience than his opponent. He took office in 2007. By late Friday afternoon, Shellenberger gained a 918-vote advantage over Leonard. I dont find that acceptable, but that is the reality, Shellenberger said. The Sun obtained a recording of the May 16 exchange from Leonard, who also spoke in the event. He said hed hire ethics counsel to both keep people out of trouble and help assistant states attorneys do their best work. 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. Shellenberger said, I feel there is still a great deal I can offer to the citizens of Baltimore County when it comes to crime fighting and keeping people safe.. Their analysis of a random sampling of 2020 cases found positive steps on the police end of investigations: Fewer cases were being closed as unfounded and nearly all included the testing of rape kits. County Executive . Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Baltimore County. I want to raise the level of professionalism in the office.. Quirk called the PACs ad campaign character assassination that influenced the race and said, Scott has always done his job very professionally.. Republican. 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. Haynes, 72, of Towson, said he has practiced in circuit courts throughout the state as well as briefed and argued cases before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and the Maryland Court of Appeals. But in the days that followed, Leonard saw his lead eroded as more than 87,000 mail-in votes were counted. Shellenberger has cruised to reelection for more than a decade. We have removed the defense that a person cannot be convicted of sexually assaulting a spouse. Leonard supporters said the candidates platform is what attracted voters. So often, with the way that these cases are handled, justice is not just denied, but they feel reassaulted by the criminal justice system. The Incumbent there, Albert Peisinger is also on the verge of being ousted. 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). But after researching the candidates platforms, she decided Leonards views on diverting some nonviolent, low-level offenses, like drug possession, from the criminal justice system aligned with her own. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (WBFF) Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has won the Democratic primary after facing a strong challenge from progressive defense. He has also called for an audit to examine possible racial disparities in charging decisions. As I have told you, I do not believe we can prove your case, he said. A civil trial is scheduled for September. Baltimore, Maryland Area. If elected, he plans to partner with state and local agencies and nonprofits to get people help rather than introducing them to the criminal justice system. Advertisement Incumbent Democrat Johnny Olszewski defeated former. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.s attempt to end an enhanced federal benefit program early. Shellenbergers tactic is to lean on the justice system. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. You can unsubscribe from these alerts at anytime. Leonard said, Just in the past few years weve seen so many civilians who have been killed by the police, whether they were suffering a mental health crisis or just being Black.. She hopes to see more transparency in case data, such as publicly available information to examine any trends around victim demographics or the outcomes of prosecutors review, she said. If you say youre going to fight crime, fight crime.. Shellenberger, seen as a traditional law-and-order prosecutor, defended his record during the campaign and said his office aggressively prosecuted crimes of violence, especially gun offenses. Shellenberger was not available for comment Tuesday night. Before pursuing journalism, she received her bachelors of fine art degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016. The Republican primary, meanwhile, attracted six candidates. Robbie Leonard and Scott Shellenberger, candidates for Baltimore County States Attorney. I will continue to fight to get more resources to properly fund an office which can address all crime. No additional details on the reasons for declined criminal charges were provided. Especially for State's Attorney in Baltimore and Harford Counties. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. She also spoke in June at a virtual town hall hosted by 1199SEIU, a health care union that endorsed Leonard, in partnership with the a new group called Legal Justice Alliance of Baltimore County. Some areas, though, recently saw an uptick in homicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leonard, 40, was the first Democrat to go up against Shellenberger, 63, since the incumbent was elected in 2006. Review of sentences is another issue. Has Maryland gone too far, or far enough, when it comes to police reform? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Ad Choices. Benefitted employees of the office the reality, Shellenberger said, he constantly makes.... Counsel to both keep people out of trouble and help assistant states do. Can address all crime allegations he stole a Badillo campaign sign in.. 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