He said his office now requires more documentation about its decisions to approve or decline charges in similar cases. We are active participants in problem solving courts in appropriate cases where the primary focus is treatment rather than incarceration. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.s attempt to end an enhanced federal benefit program early. Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Baltimore County. Had we sent that mailer two weeks earlier, I probably would have walked away the victor. The public perception of the criminal justice system. - 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. 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. Shellenberger also said Leonards out-of-state support was troubling. Most of the time, Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger does not even draw a general election challenger. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will monitor the federal, state and local elections in Chicago and surrounding suburbs on Nov. 6, 2018. 72. 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. That included Democrat Izzy Patoka of Pikesville. 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. 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. As I have told you, I do not believe we can prove your case, he said. ]. His office has adopted some of the groups recommendations, such as documenting when prosecutors review police investigations, but has disagreed with others. He said he feels that he has a greater diversity of experience than his opponent. A former public defender who is now in private practice, Leonard is secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. Some though have been settled. In the race to be the countys top prosecutor, Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger faced an aggressive primary challenge from Robbie Leonard as he sought a fifth term. I really think this is all about experience, and knowing how this office works, Shellenberger said. Tilghman, of Ames United Methodist Church in Bel Air, supported the state Child Interrogation Protection Act for kids taken into police custody. 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. The council elections took place under a newly drawn political map. No one thought we could take on a 16-year incumbent but look what we accomplished, said Leonard. 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: 30,449 Leonard: 29,531 There remains 28,000 more mail-in ballots to process that Baltimore. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Campaign website: www.scottshellenberger.com. 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. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The prosecutors in this office have done a great job to be sensitive to all victims. Were not going to say, Well, its a stalemate. Subscribers to Maryland Family Law Update can access the digital edition archive. 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. Of those, the three unnamed prosecutors brought charges in three out of 33. 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. 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. 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. Others vying for the GOP nomination were Henry Ciezkowski, Thilo August Albert Gluck, A. Scott Pappas and Kimberley Stansbury. 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. Friday marked the final day of counting for mail-in and provisional ballots in Baltimore County. In response, Shellenberger noted that killings are down, with 22 in 2022 compared to 42 at this time in 2021. The strength of Leonards candidacy, I think, suggests that the public has an appetite for criminal justice reform.. NR: not reported. 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. He said crime and the fear of crime does not seem to be getting better. 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 described that practice as unprofessional, stating that its wrong to mix public service with considerations of political loyalty. 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. The police department shrugs off and blows off so many claims of rape and sexual assault because they know that theres no point in arresting someone because Mr. Shellenberger is just going to dismiss the case, he alleged. Leonard has been a practicing attorney for 15 years and served as a public defender in Baltimore City. So often, with the way that these cases are handled, justice is not just denied, but they feel reassaulted by the criminal justice system. 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). People in the community, he said, want to be safe from violent crime. Early voting ends Nov. 3. Shellenberger said his office doesnt collect data on outcomes or demographics due to current staffing levels and the difficulties in tracking cases court outcomes, such as if someone charged with a sex crime was ultimately convicted of a lesser or different type of crime. 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. (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. For example, many people are required to get drug treatment during probation. The results ahead of Monday's. He was ahead as votes started to be counted Tuesday night. Find Maryland Election Campaign & Political lawyers, attorneys, law firms - MD Election Campaign & Political Lawyers Shellenberger said while he often testifies in opposition to the bills as drafted, he supports reasonable reforms. He harkened back to the 2015 Maryland Second Chance Act and the 2016 Justice Reinvestment Act, both of which he supported. 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. Elected officials such as Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., he noted, have endorsed his opponent. Attorney at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos from 1993-2006. 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. Haynes brought up the allegations in the lawsuit that led to the recent settlement. The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S. for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. Shellenbergers primary win comes as he takes time away from the office. Should certain crimes be prioritized and, if so, which? Leonard agreed that crime needs to be addressed and that residents feel unsafe. At the same time, they see that theres no accountability in the police department, and theres no accountability in the States Attorneys Office, he said. He announced in May that he is running for a fifth term. 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. Past experience: Law clerk from 1982-1985 in the Baltimore County States Attorneys Office, assistant states attorney from 1985-1993. He said he loves his job and believes that the office contributes a lot toward keeping people safe. 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. The Department of Justice has an important role in . Leonard said his campaign that ended in a narrow defeat should be seen as a signal for change in the countys criminal justice system. 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. 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. The death of George Floyd opened many eyes to the need for significant change. Learn more about supporting local journalism. 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. Appellate administrative judge on the Administrative Review Board in the U.S. Department of Labor, 2019-2021. 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. Working immediately to get an innocent person freed who has been wrongly convicted is probably the most important thing a prosecutor should do. Rogers Forge, Baltimore County. 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. State's Attorney (Vote for One) This table may scroll left to right depending on the screen size of your device. Robbie Leonard and Scott Shellenberger, candidates for Baltimore County States Attorney. States attorney, he said, is not a position to learn on the job. Critics have targeted Shellenberger over his handling of sexual assault cases and police involved shooting incidents. I think that we do that every day.. The PAC filed in mid-June and its spending, only related to Leonards campaign, far outmatched what either candidate raised throughout the primary. Shellenberger has a close relationship with the Baltimore County Police Department, which has been questioned in the past. 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. Name Party Early Voting Baltimore Sun Media's voter guide allows candidates to provide their background, policy and platforms on issues, in their own words. 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. And it recommended partnerships with organizations that have expertise and considering including victim advocates in some interviews and charging discussions. Leonard, 40, was the first Democrat to go up against Shellenberger, 63, since the incumbent was elected in 2006. Some observers questioned the lackluster effort as Leonard rallied a grassroots progressive primary challenge to Shellenberger. The effort attracted the attention of outside organizations including groups connected to billionaire George Soros. Early voting ends Nov. 3. We must endeavor to address the root causes of crime and help those driven by issues often out of their control. 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 other cases, such as the drug trade, its international. One Republican, Al Nalley, ran unopposed. 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. When faced with holding police accountable, how should prosecutors navigate investigating and potentially bringing charges against an agency the office works closely with? 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