Were the law and order portion of the criminal justice system., We have seen their office be fair in how they prosecute cases and defer cases, if necessary, through community service versus a criminal prosecution, he added. In this instance, Dever said, the juror was a Black woman who told other jurors the defendant reminded her of her son and indicated she believed all Black women lie. The defendant was found not guilty in the trial. Additionally, it found three prosecutors were consulted on the most cases, of the 56 the audit examined that named a prosecutor. Robbie Leonard continued to hold a narrow lead Wednesday of 860 votes over 15-year incumbent Scott Shellenberger for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County State's Attorney. No Republican has challenged Shellenberger in the general election since 2010. Any questions or feedback can be sent to elections@baltsun.com, or read more about the questionnaire process here. No additional details on the reasons for declined criminal charges were provided. Tagged with: Baltimore County Elections scott shellenberger. Find Maryland Election Campaign & Political lawyers, attorneys, law firms - MD Election Campaign & Political Lawyers 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. Soros has funded campaigns around the country to elect progressive local prosecutors. Past experience: Law clerk from 1982-1985 in the Baltimore County States Attorneys Office, assistant states attorney from 1985-1993. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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. The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City accepts applications on a rolling basis for membership into the Honors Law Clerk Program. Campaign website: www.scottshellenberger.com. . The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S. for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They deserve some finality. 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. Had we sent that mailer two weeks earlier, I probably would have walked away the victor. You can unsubscribe from these alerts at anytime. WYPO 106.9 FM Ocean City, PublishedSeptember 20, 2021 at 10:22 PM EDT. Haynes brought up the allegations in the lawsuit that led to the recent settlement. Were not going to say, Well, its a stalemate. He said he loves his job and believes that the office contributes a lot toward keeping people safe. Tilghman, of Ames United Methodist Church in Bel Air, supported the state Child Interrogation Protection Act for kids taken into police custody. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will monitor the federal, state and local elections in Chicago and surrounding suburbs on Nov. 6, 2018. Members of the BCSAO Honors Law Clerk Program are full-time benefitted employees of the BCSAO. 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. All I have asked is that those investigations be appropriately prompt. [Baltimore Countys top prosecutor faces a progressive challenger in his first primary fight in 16 years. Baltimore County voters have made their selections in primary races for state's attorney, the County Council and county executive ahead of the November general contest. 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. Some areas, though, recently saw an uptick in homicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. His office has adopted some of the groups recommendations, such as documenting when prosecutors review police investigations, but has disagreed with others. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Review of sentences is another issue. 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. I dont find that acceptable, but that is the reality, Shellenberger said. Only Shellenberger and the Fraternal Order of Police appeared in opposition, according to Leonard. Learn more about supporting local journalism. The statement came hours after The Daily Record reported that Shellenberger told his staff he needed time away from the office, citing exhaustion after the election. With a larger staff, Haynes said, the office would be able to better cooperate with police in building cases and cut down on postponements. 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. Sign up to get the Maryland Matters Memo in your inbox every morning. David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) July 29, 2022 Only hundreds of votes. - University of Baltimore, School of Law, 1984 - Loyola College, 1981, - State's Attorney for Baltimore County since 2007 - Won election in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. I will continue to fight to get more resources to properly fund an office which can address all crime. Leonard agreed that crime needs to be addressed and that residents feel unsafe. Republican. Doug Riley, who served on the Baltimore County Council from 1990-1998, said hes known Haynes for almost 40 years and believes that he has a good perspective about the criminal justice system and how it can be used to help people. He said that 52 Baltimore County residents testified in favor of the legislation at a public hearing. Return to Election Result Index . Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Baltimore County. 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. We need people with new ideas that are gonna change the status quo, which is not really working, Matey said after casting her vote at Catonsville High School Tuesday afternoon. We have succeeded over the years to get the Maryland Legislature to change many antiquated laws which allowed some sex offenders to get away with their crimes. Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger has survived an aggressive primary challenge in a race that offered voters contrasting visions of what a top prosecutors priorities should be. John Lee is a reporter for WYPR covering Baltimore County. 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. Critics have targeted Shellenberger over his handling of sexual assault cases and police involved shooting incidents. Shellenberger was not available for comment Tuesday night. We will see with time if the appropriate balance has been reached. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. A federal judge blocked the county from using its initial map and later accepted a revised version. Baltimore County State's Attorney is challenged on prosecution . With roughly 35,000 Baltimore County ballots yet to be counted, the Democratic primary for states attorney was extremely close Tuesday night, with hundreds of votes separating attorney and Maryland Democratic Party Secretary Robbie Leonard and longtime incumbent Scott Shellenberger. He described that practice as unprofessional, stating that its wrong to mix public service with considerations of political loyalty. He said low-level offenses should be diverted out of the criminal justice system to preserve resources for violent crime, and vowed not to prosecute cases of marijuana possession for personal use. Alternate judge on Employees Compensation Appeals Board in the U.S. Department of Labor from 2006-2016. Pausing on her way to drop off a ballot at Stoneleigh Elementary School, West Towson resident Ilaina Clement, 62, said she voted for Leonard because she supports his positions on criminal justice reform. (WBFF) Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has won the Democratic primary after facing a strong challenge from progressive defense. Shellenberger painted Leonard, who has never been a prosecutor, as unprepared for the office. . I always wondered, like, how is this states attorney a Democrat? County prosecutors treatment of assault victims is the topic of an ongoing federal lawsuit. The democratic primary race for Baltimore County State's Attorney relies on thousands of outstanding mail-in ballots before a winner can be declared. Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. 72. Republican Tony Campbell was unopposed. This is not a place to learn on the job.. Of the cases where prosecutors brought charges, convictions were secured in 64% of the cases. I have fought over all my years as State's Attorney to be responsive to all victims. He said hed hire ethics counsel to both keep people out of trouble and help assistant states attorneys do their best work. We need to have a police department which earns and deserves the respect of all. Shellenbergers tactic is to lean on the justice system. On Tuesday, Bates, 54, of Locust Point, was elected as the next Baltimore state's attorney. 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. The public deserves to know that the issues will be addressed with that promptness. He is a graduate of Loch Raven High School, Loyola College and the University of Baltimore School of Law. The Maryland Justice and Public Safety PAC, funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, poured nearly $784,000 into the race over a month, flooding many county Democrats mailboxes and social media feeds with advertisements. The county police and fire unions backed Shellenberger, while Leonard won endorsements from local Democratic clubs, progressive groups and other labor organizations, including the county teachers union. BALTIMORE -- Scott Shellenberger has garnered enough votes to maintain his position as Baltimore County state's attorney, according to election records. The Democratic nominee will face either Republicans James A. Haynes or Deborah Hill in the November general election. Scott Shellenberger won the Baltimore County States Attorney's race according to Baltimore Co Bd of Elections. Now the Democratic incumbent will have a Republican challenger, and that's only if he can win the contested Democratic primary. 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. Nonprofit. I believe the large majority of the officers have earned that respect. District Court Division. 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. Shellenberger has frequently opposed progressive criminal justice legislation in Annapolis. What's behind Baltimore County crime and how can the State's Attorney's office help to address those root causes? This is accomplished by the existence of a thorough and impartial investigation. HUNT VALLEY, Md. He is hardworking and dedicated to his family and to his jobs and to the law, Riley said. As states attorney, Haynes said, hed scrutinize plea agreements and make sure that assistant states attorneys were not offering them because they were unprepared for trial or lacked resources. 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. 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.. We need a change, Leonard said. No one thought we could take on a 16-year incumbent but look what we accomplished, said Leonard. The Department of Justice has an important role in . In Baltimore County, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by a more than 2-to-1 margin. BALTIMORE, MD -- 6/19/15 -- U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards speaks at the first Rural Maryland Democratic Summit in Frederick on Saturday. I have done that throughout my term as State's Attorney. We have a very robust program thats been going on for a couple years now to get caught up on this, so I think I think were doing a better job there, he said. In response, Shellenberger noted that killings are down, with 22 in 2022 compared to 42 at this time in 2021. The final unofficial votes were Shellenberger with 44,962 and Leonard with 42,847. (Paul Newson) As he seeks a fifth term in office, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger on Tuesday held a wide lead over his first challenger in the general election in 12 years, Jim Haynes. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. His sole challenger was Adam Reuter, whose campaign focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to COVID-19. Weve got to prosecute the bad guys and sometimes its going to be the police.. Shellenberger has a close relationship with the Baltimore County Police Department, which has been questioned in the past. 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. 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. But the results took more than a week and initially Leonard led the 16-year incumbent by more than 800 votes. And it recommended partnerships with organizations that have expertise and considering including victim advocates in some interviews and charging discussions. Were one of the only large counties to certify its elections today, said County Elections Director Ruie Lavoie. The Baltimore Sun typically does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault. The states attorney said he has supported what he considers reasonable criminal justice reform, and touted his long experience prosecuting crime and supervising dozens of attorneys. (AP Photo/Piper Blackburn). Printer Friendly Version. 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 supporter Peta Richkus said his campaign generated energy that was visible throughout the county.. Shellenberger, meanwhile, emphasized his experience prosecuting crimes and said he has supported what he calls reasonable criminal justice reform. She said in the online meeting that was one of the reasons the prosecutor was concerned about moving forward in my case.. Early voting ends Nov. 3. I had known for over a decade who Scott was and what he stood for, but it was at that moment that I realized how out of touch he is with the people that hes supposed to be representing and how out of touch he is in the pursuit of justice and fairness, he said. I have stressed that during my time as the State's Attorney to all who work for me. It appears incumbent Democratic Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger could lose his seat to well funded progressive challenger Robbie Leonard. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Advertisement Incumbent Democrat Johnny Olszewski defeated former. Last summer, he represented unemployed Marylanders who successfully challenged Republican Gov. 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. He plans to hold a rally in Patriots Plaza in Towson at 2 p.m. WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore If re-elected, Shellenberger plans to prioritize prosecuting violent crime, which has been on the rise in Baltimore County. We must be attuned to the issues from both the perspective of the man on the street and the officer on the beat. 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 has emphasized positive steps made in response to criticisms, such as increased testing of rape kits. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger is pictured in this portrait in his office on Oct. 25, 2022. NR: not reported. Shellenberger opposed the legislation. Name Party Early Voting 'This is a big job': Leonard Takes on Shellenberger in Baltimore County State's Attorney Primary By Hannah Gaskill May 30, 2022 Getty Images. (A 2019 audit had found rape kits werent tested in 78% of cases.). Crime, he said, is regional. And its not OK for the states attorneys office to turn their back on their sworn oath.. It appears that this has been accomplished. 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 his campaign that ended in a narrow defeat should be seen as a signal for change in the countys criminal justice system. I was involved actively in that process at both the County and State level. In Gubernatorial Election years, Baltimore County voters will elect the following: Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Comptroller; Attorney General; U.S. Representative (every two years) State Senators; State Delegates; County Executive; County Council; Judges of the Circuit Court (if vacancy exists) This concept that Im against everything and we have to throw everybody in jail I just think if people really dig into my record they would find that theres a lot there, he said. Returns were incomplete Tuesday evening, with polls closing at 8 p.m. and a large number of ballots yet to be counted. The woman disputed Shellenbergers suggestion that her story changed and said he told her last year he believed her allegation because she was consistent.. The Legislature has decided that when the circumstances involve the death of an individual, that investigation will be by investigators attached to the Attorney General's Office. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next June's primary. Law Clerks are assigned to work in one of the trial units. There is no statute of limitation on rape in the state of Maryland. You can unsubscribe from these alerts at anytime. Black Lives Matter and issues related to mass incarceration have sort of gone mainstream as viable, relevant issues, Jaros said. We must endeavor to address the root causes of crime and help those driven by issues often out of their control. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. Civil rights groups sued the county after last years redistricting process, alleging the plan unlawfully diluted Black residents votes. ), 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. 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. We came up short of victory but we started a real conversation for change, he said. Some observers questioned the lackluster effort as Leonard rallied a grassroots progressive primary challenge to Shellenberger. Throughout the Democratic campaign, Leonard sought to bring scrutiny to Shellenbergers record in office. Subscribers to Maryland Family Law Update can access the digital edition archive. Both Shellenberger and Leonard have declined to discuss the changes in vote totals over the last week of counting. 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 first elected in 2006. News you can trust. The district covering areas such as Overlea, Parkville, Rosedale and Towson drew five candidates, the most of any district. Theres a point at which you get out of the process. 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. 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. ]. 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. Since his election, Mr. Shellenberger has fought for justice, fairness, and accountability in the criminal justice system. Both promised comments when the last votes were counted. Hes always opposing legislation being put in by Democrats.. And the voters of Baltimore County deserve that change.. He said hed like to post information about the office and its results as a measure of transparency on the website. We also need to continue our efforts to demonstrate to all citizens that the justice system must continue in our efforts to be race neutral and assure that all are treated fairly. [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.]. People in the community, he said, want to be safe from violent crime. He vowed to continue to seek the fair administration of justice for and the protection of anyone residing in or visiting Baltimore County.. The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S. for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As of this publishing, the two are separated by less than 1,000 votes which is just shy of two percentage points. If you say youre going to fight crime, fight crime.. The Working Families Party and Progressive Maryland endorsed Robbie Leonard in the 2022 race for Baltimore County States Attorney on Tuesday. Some female voters told The Baltimore Sun during the campaign that issues related to sexual assault were why they supported Leonard. Before pursuing journalism, she received her bachelors of fine art degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016. 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. 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. The winner of the primary will go on to the general election to face Republican James A. Haynes, 72, a former federal labor department administrative judge who lives in Rodgers Forge, or Deborah Hill, 60, a private practice attorney who lives in Cockeysville. Im worth fighting for, she said in the interview. He was also given the Gun Sense Candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action to End Gun Violence. By late Friday afternoon, Shellenberger gained a 918-vote advantage over Leonard. For decades, the crime rate has been decreasing in the United States. Whoever pulls it out, looks to be headed for a General Election match-up with Republican James A. Haynes who seems to have edged out Deborah Hill. In other cases, such as the drug trade, its international. Shellenberger, 63, has criticized Leonard for his lack of prosecutorial experience, his party politics and perspective on criminal justice reform. 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. This is contrary to our ethical obligation and does a disservice to victims of sexual assault if the process loses its legitimacy by inappropriate prosecutions. Then there is the GOP Primary battle for Harford County State's Attorney. 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. Leonard conceded about 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. The way that we can prevent it from happening again is to get good sentences, in the area of violent crime. He pointed to the murder of George Floyd, the Freddie Gray case and the Gun Trace Task Force scandal. Shellenberger told The Sun he spoke with Dever and said it was a wrong thing to say to a victim.. . 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 Haynes was leading the race as ballots were starting to be counted Tuesday night. The race was marked by heavy outside spending by progressive political action committees that sought to unseat Shellenberger. 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. Daily Record Government Reporter Offers may be subject to change without notice. After the recommendations from the countys latest task force on sexual assaults, the group did a follow-up audit in 2021 to measure improvements or lingering problems. Learn more about supporting local journalism. The Incumbent there, Albert Peisinger is also on the verge of being ousted. Leonard supporters said the candidates platform is what attracted voters. With in-person and early voting ballots tallied, Leonard held a narrow lead of 860 votes. The State's Attorney needs to be actively involved in addressing these issues when we are dealing with lower level crimes. On election day I got the most votes. In all, Shellenberger finished with a more than 2,100 vote lead over Leonard. TurnAround, she said, is eager to work with the office on enhancing victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches to working with survivors. Cox initially said he would offer some comment but left without speaking to reporters after the results were announced.
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