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. Haynes has called himself "a political. Leonard spoke frequently of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. 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. It appears incumbent Democratic Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger could lose his seat to well funded progressive challenger Robbie Leonard. There is no statute of limitation on rape in the state of Maryland. Shellenberger reported having over $13,000 on hand, while Haynes detailed having more than $1,500 available, according to campaign finance disclosure reports that covered July 4-Aug. 23. Tilghman said Shellenberger has not shown fairness to people of color, pointing to factors including his stance on state juvenile justice reform legislation. Weve got to prosecute the bad guys and sometimes its going to be the police.. At the end of the day, Robbie garnered so much support because so many people supported his vision, Rev. If you say youre going to fight crime, fight crime.. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. Leonard said arresting possible human trafficking victims preposterous. And its not OK for the states attorneys office to turn their back on their sworn oath.. The death of George Floyd opened many eyes to the need for significant change. 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. Were one of the only large counties to certify its elections today, said County Elections Director Ruie Lavoie. Black Lives Matter and issues related to mass incarceration have sort of gone mainstream as viable, relevant issues, Jaros said. 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? In 2019, state and local lawmakers passed bills to fund testing of previously untested kits and set standards for testing kits in the future. Election Day is Nov. 8. dylan.segelbaum@thebaltimorebanner.com Meet the candidates for Baltimore County state's attorney Scott Shellenberger Age: 63 Residence: Towson Political party: Democratic The states attorneys office is understaffed, he believes. All Rights Reserved. Education: Bachelors degree in English from the University of Maryland in 1973. Shellenberger also said Leonards out-of-state support was troubling. 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. Violent crime, unquestionably, must be prioritized. 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. The. Working immediately to get an innocent person freed who has been wrongly convicted is probably the most important thing a prosecutor should do. 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. Ten days after Election Day, Shellenberger officially prevailed Friday in the Democratic contest between him and Robbie Leonard, a former public defender who is now an attorney in private practice. Do voters want change? 'This is a big job': Leonard Takes on Shellenberger in Baltimore County State's Attorney Primary By Hannah Gaskill May 30, 2022 Getty Images. Cox initially said he would offer some comment but left without speaking to reporters after the results were announced. 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 2021 audit said it couldnt assess case outcomes at trial because of COVID-19 delays. 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. 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. He said that 52 Baltimore County residents testified in favor of the legislation at a public hearing. He said the close primary made him realize that he needs to more frequently publicize some of the reforms that hes implemented including putting in place a marijuana diversion program and supporting the adoption of police body cameras. Leonard agreed that crime needs to be addressed and that residents feel unsafe. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. 53,603 ballots were sent to Baltimore . 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. Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. HUNT VALLEY Baltimore County's incumbent state's attorney beat back an upstart primary challenger and will move on to the November general election. 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. He said it is worth prosecuting low-level crimes and that the court system is, at times, what gets someone help. The 2021 audit also found more standardized documentation of prosecutors review of police cases. 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. This is accomplished by the existence of a thorough and impartial investigation. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. BALTIMORE, MD -- 6/19/15 -- U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards speaks at the first Rural Maryland Democratic Summit in Frederick on Saturday. Offers may be subject to change without notice. outside money that supported Leonards candidacy, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next June's primary. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will monitor the federal, state and local elections in Chicago and surrounding suburbs on Nov. 6, 2018. Baltimore Sun Media May 17, 2022 at 3:43 pm Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger Democratic 63 Towson, Baltimore County State's Attorney for Baltimore. Learn more about supporting local journalism. The way we catch defendants who are guilty of human trafficking is to make an arrest in a prostitution case, said Shellenberger, who clarified that that doesnt mean that that person needs to be prosecuted for prostitution.. They cannot be called upon to live the rest of their lives unable to move on from the horror they lived through in the loss of their loved one or the crime perpetrated on them. Shellenberger told The Sun he spoke with Dever and said it was a wrong thing to say to a victim.. The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S. for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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). We must be attuned to the issues from both the perspective of the man on the street and the officer on the beat. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, some scrutiny for his handling of police involved shooting incidents. 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. That doesnt mean that everybody goes to jail, he said. Leonard, 40, was the first Democrat to go up against Shellenberger, 63, since the incumbent was elected in 2006. 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. By, Wavelength: Baltimore's Public Radio Journey, One Day at a Time: In Recovery in Baltimore, Celebrating 20 Years of Commitment to Community. 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. Appellate administrative judge on the Administrative Review Board in the U.S. Department of Labor, 2019-2021. 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. Campaign website: www.haynesforbaltimorecounty.com, www.thebaltimorebanner.com 2022 The Baltimore Banner. He was also given the Gun Sense Candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action to End Gun Violence. Deputy States Attorney John Cox, who represented his boss, and Leonard were both present in the final hour of counting. 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. News you can trust. Crime, he said, is regional. Return to Election Result Index . We need to have a police department which earns and deserves the respect of all. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Of the cases where prosecutors brought charges, convictions were secured in 64% of the cases. Leonard said the incumbents opposition to local police reform policies mobilized him to challenge Shellenberger. 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. Leonard supporter Peta Richkus said his campaign generated energy that was visible throughout the county.. I am absolutely committed to that. Soros has funded progressive prosecutor candidates around the country. We will see with time if the appropriate balance has been reached. Im worth fighting for, she said in the interview. Hannah Gaskill received her masters of journalism degree in December 2019 from the University of Maryland. The PAC filed in mid-June and its spending, only related to Leonards campaign, far outmatched what either candidate raised throughout the primary. So what we learned in this campaignwe just have to start earlier in making that contrast between the candidates. I worked to remove a requirement of "resistance" by victims of a sexual assault. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. 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. Efforts at police reform are probably a never ending process. 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 Baltimore County Board of Elections certified the county's results Friday, following a week of counting thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. . 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. We have, I believe, balanced the issues of prosecution and public safety very carefully, Shellenberger said. I really think this is all about experience, and knowing how this office works, Shellenberger said. On the final day of counting,. Both Shellenberger and Leonard have declined to discuss the changes in vote totals over the last week of counting. And it recommended partnerships with organizations that have expertise and considering including victim advocates in some interviews and charging discussions. His sole challenger was Adam Reuter, whose campaign focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to COVID-19. 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. Haynes has called himself a political outsider.. Olszewski had a wide lead in initial returns. 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. Rodriguez said a case should move forward on its own laurels, on its own facts.. 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. Then there is the GOP Primary battle for Harford County State's Attorney. And the voters of Baltimore County deserve that change.. His last Republican challenger in the general election was in 2010. Were not going to say, Well, its a stalemate. In Baltimore County, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Review of sentences is another issue. This is a place where I was well prepared when I first came into office and am even more prepared to continue to lead the office now, he added. 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. Shellenberger, 63, has criticized Leonard for his lack of prosecutorial experience, his party politics and perspective on criminal justice reform. 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. . Published on: July 20, 2022 12:12 AM EDT|Updated on: July 22, 2022 6:28 PM EDT. 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. The voters of Baltimore County deserve that change. The Republican primary, meanwhile, attracted six candidates. He supports diverting low-level offenses out of the criminal justice system and wants to conduct a racial equity audit examining prosecutorial practices. The public then expects a decision by their State's Attorney to pursue prosecution when appropriate. But Haynes said the incumbent is not doing enough to address violent crime. From our perspective, we see the states attorney as a law-and-order candidate, Folderauer said And obviously, that is the oath that we have taken. I have fought over all my years as State's Attorney to be responsive to all victims. In mid-May, New York Magazine published a piece detailing an ongoing federal lawsuit against Shellenberger and other officials in which sexual assault survivors have alleged that their rights were violated and the investigation of their cases mishandled. 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. Juris doctor from University of Baltimore of School of Law in 1984. John Lee is a reporter for WYPR covering Baltimore County. 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. The world has changed a lot in the last four years, Jaros said. We cannot, however, pursue cases which cannot be proven. The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City takes a holistic approach to fighting crime, keeping the community informed, investing in Baltimore's youth before they encounter the criminal justice system and providing second-chance opportunities to first-time nonviolent offenders. 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. At the May online meeting of the Southwest Baltimore County Democratic Club, Shellenberger confirmed hed met with the woman and didnt believe prosecutors could prove her case. Haynes was leading the race as ballots were starting to be counted Tuesday night. Past experience: Law clerk from 1982-1985 in the Baltimore County States Attorneys Office, assistant states attorney from 1985-1993. 72. He is a graduate of Loch Raven High School, Loyola College and the University of Baltimore School of Law. We established diversion programs for drug possession cases which seeks treatment rather than conviction. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. But in the days that followed, Leonard saw his lead eroded as more than 87,000 mail-in votes were counted. an audit to examine possible racial disparities. If Leonard clinches the Democratic nomination, hell have ousted one of the most prominent voices on law enforcement and criminal justice in Annapolis. The strength of Leonards candidacy, I think, suggests that the public has an appetite for criminal justice reform.. Leonard has been a practicing attorney for 15 years and served as a public defender in Baltimore City. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. In other cases, such as the drug trade, its international. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Shellenbergers re-election bid got off to a slow start. He unseated the two-term incumbent, Marilyn Mosby, in the Democratic primary and did not face a challenger in the general election. 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. (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. 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. In this campaignwe just have to start earlier in making that contrast the! Been wrongly convicted is probably the most prominent voices on Law enforcement and criminal justice reform review police... Audit examining prosecutorial practices kits have been tested and 300 more are on deck End Gun Violence and justice! Im worth fighting for, she said in the interview on our website function... 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Last four years, Jaros said wrong thing to say, well, its a stalemate he offer.
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