baltimore county state's attorney election

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. 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. In response, Shellenberger noted that killings are down, with 22 in 2022 compared to 42 at this time in 2021. Leonard supporter Peta Richkus said his campaign generated energy that was visible throughout the county.. He announced in May that he is running for a fifth term. 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, 40, was the first Democrat to go up against Shellenberger, 63, since the incumbent was elected in 2006. Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. 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. 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. Review of sentences is another issue. The state's attorney is elected to a four-year term and earns a salary of $216,749. He said he feels that he has a greater diversity of experience than his opponent. Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger remained ahead in the Democratic primary for his office after more than 12,000 more mail-in votes were added Sunday, extending his lead over progressive challenger Robbie Leonard to 2,150 votes in the latest accounting of mail-in ballots. 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. 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. 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. I will continue to fight to get more resources to properly fund an office which can address all crime. He was also given the Gun Sense Candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action to End Gun Violence. The State's Attorney needs to be actively involved in addressing these issues when we are dealing with lower level crimes. The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved the states portion of a $100,000 settlement in a lawsuit in which a woman alleged that police and prosecutors violated her constitutional rights after she reported that three baseball players from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, sexually assaulted her. Shellenberger must defend his office in a jury trial in September against allegations that it and police detectives violated a womans First Amendment rights by trying to stop her from filing criminal charges against men she said raped her. On the final day of counting,. We need a change, Leonard 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? 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. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Shellenberger said he intended to help the woman and did not want the men to sue her for claims such as false arrest. He pointed to the murder of George Floyd, the Freddie Gray case and the Gun Trace Task Force scandal. Thats what I was trying to do, and Im sorry she took it to be anything other than what it was, Dever said. This decision must also be balanced with a knowledge and judgement in prosecution which addresses the circumstances police officers are placed in while working to protect the community. No Republican has challenged Shellenberger in the general election since 2010. 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. The public then expects a decision by their State's Attorney to pursue prosecution when appropriate. Those that don't or choose not to must be appropriately addressed. 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. But this year, his 16th in office, he has faced the most sustained criticism of his career. Early voting ends Nov. 3. County Executive . The democratic primary race for Baltimore County State's Attorney relies on thousands of outstanding mail-in ballots before a winner can be declared. The voters of Baltimore County deserve that change. Leonards and the PACs messaging focused heavily on Shellenbergers handling of sexual assault cases. State Del. For decades, the crime rate has been decreasing in the United States. Prosecutors had declined to take the case, but the woman tried to pursue charges on her own through the court commissioner. Were often hearing from survivors that they want justice, said Rodriguez. On election day I got the most votes. Leonard spoke frequently of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Robbie Leonard and Scott Shellenberger, candidates for Baltimore County States Attorney. 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. She grew up in Ocean City. He is a graduate of Loch Raven High School, Loyola College and the University of Baltimore School of Law. I really think this is all about experience, and knowing how this office works, Shellenberger said. 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). I was involved actively in that process at both the County and State level. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger is pictured in this portrait in his office on Oct. 25, 2022. Of the cases where prosecutors brought charges, convictions were secured in 64% of the cases. It is also crucial to examine policy outcomes to make them race-neutral.. NR: not reported: Denotes Winner of the Election. Not just paying your salary paying for your mistakes.. The Baltimore Sun typically does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault. 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 just work cooperatively toward that goal.. 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. Baltimore Sun Media's voter guide allows candidates to provide their background, policy and platforms on issues, in their own words. Gaskill has had bylines in The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune, among other publications. His sole challenger was Adam Reuter, whose campaign focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to COVID-19. 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. 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 -- Scott Shellenberger has garnered enough votes to maintain his position as Baltimore County state's attorney, according to election records. . Leonard conceded about 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. As states attorney, Shellenberger said, he constantly makes changes. Were one of the only large counties to certify its elections today, said County Elections Director Ruie Lavoie. The Department of Justice has an important role in . Rodriguez said a case should move forward on its own laurels, on its own facts.. outside money that supported Leonards candidacy, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. HUNT VALLEY, Md. Retired from the US Department of Labor as Appellate . The Republican primary, meanwhile, attracted six candidates. . 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.. Leonard said that transparency and accountability mean prosecuting violent crimes where theres actual victims not quality of life offenses, like charges that stem from poverty or drug use. Haynes led the primary Tuesday night. 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. 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. He supports diverting low-level offenses out of the criminal justice system and wants to conduct a racial equity audit examining prosecutorial practices. You can unsubscribe from these alerts at anytime. Republican. For example, many people are required to get drug treatment during probation. The Baltimore Banner may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. We cannot, however, pursue cases which cannot be proven. Shellenberger told The Sun he spoke with Dever and said it was a wrong thing to say to a victim.. Baltimore County's four-term State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger usually runs for reelection uncontested every four years. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Efforts at police reform are probably a never ending process. Witnesses and victims of crime do not get paid to come to court, Haynes said. In the Democratic primary, Leonard has garnered an impressive list of endorsements so far, including from the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, Our Revolution, The Working Families Party, Progressive Maryland, CASA in Action and several labor unions. By, Wavelength: Baltimore's Public Radio Journey, One Day at a Time: In Recovery in Baltimore, Celebrating 20 Years of Commitment to Community. Violent crime, unquestionably, must be prioritized. The death of George Floyd opened many eyes to the need for significant change. 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. 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. I worked to get old sexual assault kits and available evidence tested to find serial sexual offenders. Black Lives Matter and issues related to mass incarceration have sort of gone mainstream as viable, relevant issues, Jaros said. With the limits on resources with which I am provided, that is where my priorities will be. 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. Then there is the GOP Primary battle for Harford County State's Attorney. Riley said hes seen firsthand how elected officials can become stale.. Assistant State's Attorney. I was always on the opposite side of every issue from the current Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger, he said. The states attorneys office is understaffed, he believes. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. He said crime and the fear of crime does not seem to be getting better. He said that 52 Baltimore County residents testified in favor of the legislation at a public hearing. Published on: October 27, 2022 6:00 AM EDT|Updated on: October 27, 2022 9:21 AM EDT. 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. Return to Election Result Index . 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 prosecutors in this office have done a great job to be sensitive to all victims. There is no statute of limitation on rape in the state of Maryland. [Live election results: Baltimore County primary results]. 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. He was ahead as votes started to be counted Tuesday night. Hannah Gaskill received her masters of journalism degree in December 2019 from the University of Maryland. Shellenberger was not available for comment Tuesday night. 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 . By: Bryan P. Sears Many different voices made themselves heard throughout the course of this primary election, and I was heartened by the instances when the issues were fairly discussed and debated, he said. Theres a point at which you get out of the process. He is hardworking and dedicated to his family and to his jobs and to the law, Riley said. 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. Learn more about supporting local journalism. 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. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next June's primary. His last Republican challenger in the general election was in 2010. 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. He said Shellenberger is out of touch with Democratic primary voters. Had we sent that mailer two weeks earlier, I probably would have walked away the victor. Only Shellenberger and the Fraternal Order of Police appeared in opposition, according to Leonard. 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. Shellenberger is of the mindset that all laws should be enforced. 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. Leonard portrayed Shellenberger as out of step with todays Democrats, someone who hadnt changed with the times. He said he loves his job and believes that the office contributes a lot toward keeping people safe. July 29, 2022. HUNT VALLEY Baltimore County's incumbent state's attorney beat back an upstart primary challenger and will move on to the November general election. He is what youve seen: Hes a man of great character. 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. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. Shellenberger received 44,962 votes or 51% compared to Leonard's 42,847 votes, 49%. The 16-year incumbent released a statement . Updated: 12:28 PM EST Nov 9, 2022 TOWSON, Md. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. WYPR - 88.1 FM Baltimore | One local professor said he sees the closeness of the race as a sign county voters are more open to criminal justice reforms than some previously believed. People in the community, he said, want to be safe from violent crime. 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. 72. We have removed the defense that a person cannot be convicted of sexually assaulting a spouse. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next Junes primary. Learn more about supporting local journalism. A tough-on-crime Democrat, Shellenberger will square up against the young, self-described progressive attorney and secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party at the polls in July. 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. Printer Friendly Version. 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. Shellenberger, meanwhile, emphasized his experience prosecuting crimes and said he has supported what he calls reasonable criminal justice reform. Some female voters told The Baltimore Sun during the campaign that issues related to sexual assault were why they supported Leonard. Haynes, 72, of Rodgers Forge, is a retired administrative judge with the U.S. Department of Labor and a former state assistant attorney general. But in the days that followed, Leonard saw his lead eroded as more than 87,000 mail-in votes were counted. 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. We continue to train and learn more to find the best way to pursue sexual assaults. 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. That the office contributes a lot toward keeping people safe background, and... To train and learn more to find the best way to pursue charges on own. 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Opposition, according to Leonard feels that he is what youve seen: hes a man of character.

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