baltimore county state's attorney election
A judge ruled in a hearing on Tuesday that the perjury and mortgage fraud trial for former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby will remain in Baltimore despite attempts to move it. Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4, Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice. WYPR - 88.1 FM Baltimore | Shellenberger, meanwhile, emphasized his experience prosecuting crimes and said he has supported what he calls reasonable criminal justice reform. He was challenged by Tony Fugett, who was one of an unprecedented number of Black candidates across the county to run for council after the redistricting lawsuit. Rodriguez, who has been working as an advocate for the woman who confronted Shellenberger, said the reasoning for why prosecutors arent moving forward has been inconsistent. Rodriguez is a former prosecutor in Shellenbergers office and said she would have brought criminal charges against the womans attacker, based on the facts of the case. The Working Families Party and Progressive Maryland endorsed Robbie Leonard in the 2022 race for Baltimore County States Attorney on Tuesday. Published on: October 27, 2022 6:00 AM EDT|Updated on: October 27, 2022 9:21 AM EDT. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. [Live election results: Baltimore County primary results]. Soros has funded campaigns around the country to elect progressive local prosecutors. Leonard supporters said the candidates platform is what attracted voters. Longtime Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenbergers record on handling sexual assault cases is in the spotlight as he seeks a fifth term as the countys top prosecutor. 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. Theres a point at which you get out of the process. Shellenberger said he intended to help the woman and did not want the men to sue her for claims such as false arrest. And recent attack ads against Shellenberger airing on televisions and mailed to homes have focused on sexual assaults. Gubernatorial Election years are 2022, 2026, 2030, etc. Working immediately to get an innocent person freed who has been wrongly convicted is probably the most important thing a prosecutor should do. He criticized Shellenbergers handling of sexual assaults and police shootings, and his stance on reform legislation in Annapolis, where he has had an influential voice on criminal justice issues. Baltimore County's four-term State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger usually runs for reelection uncontested every four years. Some areas, though, recently saw an uptick in homicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tilghman said Shellenberger has not shown fairness to people of color, pointing to factors including his stance on state juvenile justice reform legislation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. I tend to be more moderate, said Clement, who moved back to Towson late last year, but there are good aspects to the progressive agenda of some chief prosecutors to incarcerate fewer nonviolent, low-level crimes. Leonard has been a practicing attorney for 15 years and served as a public defender in Baltimore City. On the other hand, Shellenberger pointed to his decision to prosecute Baltimore County Police Officer James Laboard on a charge of manslaughter in the death of Christopher Brown, 17, of Randallstown, though a jury came back with a not guilty verdict in 2013. The states attorney is elected to a four-year term and earns a salary of $216,749. Tracking prosecutorial decisions is difficult due to a lack of public reporting. As of this publishing, the two are separated by less than 1,000 votes which is just shy of two percentage points. At the end of the day, Robbie garnered so much support because so many people supported his vision, Rev. When youre trying to explain to someone the reasons why you cant go forward, you have to give real-life experiences as to what happens in other cases to give it context. Leonard, the first Democrat to challenge the incumbent since Shellenberger was first elected in 2006, criticized the states attorneys handling of such issues as sexual assaults, police shootings and other cases. State's Attorney Republican Candidates - Vote for 1 And the voters of Baltimore County deserve that change.. In response, Shellenberger noted that killings are down, with 22 in 2022 compared to 42 at this time in 2021. As states attorney, Shellenberger said, he constantly makes changes. Patoka had a large lead in early returns, as did other council members who faced primary challengers: Republicans Todd Crandell of Dundalk, Wade Kach of Cockesyville, and David Marks of Perry Hall. For decades, the crime rate has been decreasing in the United States. A federal judge blocked the county from using its initial map and later accepted a revised version. By, Wavelength: Baltimore's Public Radio Journey, One Day at a Time: In Recovery in Baltimore, Celebrating 20 Years of Commitment to Community. The final unofficial votes were Shellenberger with 44,962 and Leonard with 42,847. Cox initially said he would offer some comment but left without speaking to reporters after the results were announced. With two longtime Democratic County Council members not seeking reelection, including the only woman on the seven-member body, this years primary attracted a slew of hopefuls. What is the most pressing issue facing the county's State's Attorney's office? State's Attorney (Vote for One) This table may scroll left to right depending on the screen size of your device. 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. (WBFF) Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has won the Democratic primary after facing a strong challenge from progressive defense. In other cases, such as the drug trade, its international. 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. He has also called for an audit to examine possible racial disparities in charging decisions. My priority in running for states attorney is having a fair, transparent and accountable criminal justice system in the States Attorneys Office things that we dont have here, Leonard said. The world has changed a lot in the last four years, Jaros said. On election day I got the most votes. Now the Democratic incumbent will have a Republican challenger, and that's only if he can win the contested Democratic primary. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) July 29, 2022 Only hundreds of votes. He has emphasized positive steps made in response to criticisms, such as increased testing of rape kits. We came up short of victory but we started a real conversation for change, he said. How crazy is that? he said. 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. Any questions or feedback can be sent to [email protected], or read more about the questionnaire process here. Shellenbergers tactic is to lean on the justice system. Longtime Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger's record on handling sexual assault cases is in the spotlight as he seeks a fifth term as the county's top prosecutor.. Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. The prosecutors in this office have done a great job to be sensitive to all victims. Shellenberger, 63, has criticized Leonard for his lack of prosecutorial experience, his party politics and perspective on criminal justice reform. Learn more about supporting local journalism. Shellenberger has said the office doesnt collect data around the number of criminal prosecutions, convictions or victim and perpetrator demographics making it challenging for observers to analyze outcomes. WYPF 88.1 FM Frederick 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. 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 . Election Day is Nov. 8. [email protected] Meet the candidates for Baltimore County state's attorney Scott Shellenberger Age: 63 Residence: Towson Political party: Democratic "The U.S. Attorney's Office will monitor the federal, state and local elections in Chicago and surrounding suburbs on Nov. 6, 2018. I guess the easiest way to put it is, in this instance if it aint broke, dont fix it, said Spencer, about his support for Shellenberger. We have, I believe, balanced the issues of prosecution and public safety very carefully, Shellenberger said. The public perception of the criminal justice system. This has to be balanced with our efforts to pursue the assertive prosecution of crimes of violence to assure the public knows they can feel safe to live in this County and that they will be protected. Republican Tony Campbell was unopposed. Hannah Gaskill received her masters of journalism degree in December 2019 from the University of Maryland. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Haynes led the primary Tuesday night. The Department of Justice has an important role in . This is accomplished by the existence of a thorough and impartial investigation. 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.. Then there is the GOP Primary battle for Harford County State's Attorney. Early voting ends Nov. 3. He later changed his position, saying he saw the value in testing all kits because doing so can link suspects to other sex offenses. He vowed to continue to seek the fair administration of justice for and the protection of anyone residing in or visiting Baltimore County.. On Tuesday, Bates, 54, of Locust Point, was elected as the next Baltimore state's attorney. In the lawsuit, a woman accuses Shellenberger of sending police to her home to tell her to stop trying to pursue criminal charges against the men she said assaulted her. 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. Learn more about supporting local journalism. The Sun obtained a recording of the May 16 exchange from Leonard, who also spoke in the event. I dont like smear campaigns, said Laurel Matey, a 49-year-old Catonsville resident, referring to the ads distributed by Leonard and his supporters that cast Shellenberger in a bad light. Shellenberger, who once led the division that prosecutes sex crimes, described sexual assaults as probably the most difficult cases for prosecutors in an interview with The Baltimore Sun about his campaign. Friday marked the final day of counting for mail-in and provisional ballots in Baltimore County. Were going to lose if we play defense, Haynes said. Shellenberger told The Sun he spoke with Dever and said it was a wrong thing to say to a victim.. I do not believe the facts that you revealed the first time to the police amount to a crime in the state of Maryland.. 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. Efforts at police reform are probably a never ending process. But Mohler and other Shellenberger supporters also point to the influence of outside money that supported Leonards candidacy. Baltimore Sun Media's voter guide allows candidates to provide their background, policy and platforms on issues, in their own words. That is about to change. She said prosecutors she worked with in the years since her assaults made her feel worthless and like she wasnt human, including mocking and blaming her. Leonard, 40, was boosted by super political action committee the Maryland Justice & Public Safety PAC, which quickly accrued more than half a million dollars in debt to a New York-based political consultant for advertising materials to promote his campaign. 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. During his tenure, Shellenberger has faced criticism for how his office has handled sex crimes and declined to charge some police officers who have used deadly force. Shellenberger also refuted the notion that he is too close with the countys Fraternal Order of Police, saying he has a list of 18 police officers including the organizations past president that his office has prosecuted in the past few years. . On the final day of counting, incumbent Scott Shellenberger added 182 votes to his nearly 2,000 vote lead and edged out Robbie Leonard. Leonard said arresting possible human trafficking victims preposterous. We established diversion programs for drug possession cases which seeks treatment rather than conviction. Witnesses and victims of crime do not get paid to come to court, Haynes said. -- Two big races played out on Election Day in Baltimore County in 2022. Lawyer, admitted to the Maryland bar. Prosecutors had declined to take the case, but the woman tried to pursue charges on her own through the court commissioner. A county task force formed in 2019 to examine sexual assault investigations identified the topic as an issue for the office, which includes Shellenberger and prosecutors. 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. Sure it helped, said Leonard. TurnAround, she said, is eager to work with the office on enhancing victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches to working with survivors. Daily Record Government Reporter HUNT VALLEY Baltimore Countys incumbent states attorney beat back an upstart primary challenger and will move on to the November general election. Shellenberger has frequently opposed progressive criminal justice legislation in Annapolis. Nonpartisan. 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. Of those, the three unnamed prosecutors brought charges in three out of 33. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Shellenberger wins Baltimore County states attorney primary race, Video Series: Off the Record with Sloane Brown, Baltimore City - vs. Jose Francisco Zacarias Perez, YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS/PRIVACY POLICY, Fed official: Rate hikes have begun to quell inflation, Ripken, Cooperstown baseball merge under deal with 76ers, Devils owners, Off the Record with Sloane Brown: Rene Hutchins, University of Maryland Carey School of Law. The public deserves to know that the issues will be addressed with that promptness. In the Democratic primary, Shellenberger narrowly defeated Robbie Leonard a former public defender who advocated for a more progressive approach toward criminal justice and criticized how the office had handled low-level offenses, sex crimes and allegations of police misconduct by a margin of 2.4%, or 2,115 votes, according to election results from the Maryland State Board of Elections. 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