The Incumbent there, Albert Peisinger is also on the verge of being ousted. State's Attorney Republican Candidates - Vote for 1 He said at the time that law enforcement has limited resources, and often a rape suspects identity is not in question because the victim and perpetrator know each other. The district covering areas such as Overlea, Parkville, Rosedale and Towson drew five candidates, the most of any district. In other cases, such as the drug trade, its international. 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.. 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). The Baltimore Banner may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. I dont find that acceptable, but that is the reality, Shellenberger said. In all, Shellenberger finished with a more than 2,100 vote lead over Leonard. We cannot ignore, however, that there are victims of low-level offenses also. Education: Bachelors degree in political science from Loyola College in 1981. Find Maryland Election Campaign & Political lawyers, attorneys, law firms - MD Election Campaign & Political Lawyers 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 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. 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. I think we have kept things fresh, even though Ive been here a long time, Shellenberger said. 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. Haynes said he would neither solicit campaign donations from staff nor ask them to work the polls. He is hardworking and dedicated to his family and to his jobs and to the law, Riley said. Rodriguez said a case should move forward on its own laurels, on its own facts.. Offers may be subject to change without notice. That in itself, I think, is horrific.. Leonard supporter Peta Richkus said his campaign generated energy that was visible throughout the county.. He was also given the Gun Sense Candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action to End Gun Violence. Last Updated 12/02/2014 03:18:07 PM. Shellenberger has frequently opposed progressive criminal justice legislation in Annapolis. Leonard spoke frequently of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. 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. 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 His office has adopted some of the groups recommendations, such as documenting when prosecutors review police investigations, but has disagreed with others. Members of the BCSAO Honors Law Clerk Program are full-time benefitted employees of the BCSAO. He ran on a progressive platform and portrayed Shellenberger as out of step with todays Democrats on issues such as police reform. 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. 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. Now, for the first time in 12 years, Shellenberger faces a Republican opponent, Jim Haynes, an attorney and former Maryland assistant attorney general, on Election Day. It appears that this has been accomplished. Incumbent Scott Shellenberger gained ground in the Democratic primary race for Baltimore County state's attorney as mail-in ballots are tallied, taking a narrow lead Friday over. But Mohler and other Shellenberger supporters also point to the influence of outside money that supported Leonards candidacy. Leonard, 40, was the first Democrat to go up against Shellenberger, 63, since the incumbent was elected in 2006. Pat Young was ahead of candidates Paul Dongarra and Danielle Nicole Singley in early returns. I will continue to fight to get more resources to properly fund an office which can address all crime. 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. Review of sentences is another issue. 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. Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Baltimore County. They deserve some finality. Hes always opposing legislation being put in by Democrats.. A civil trial is scheduled for September. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. 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. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. Leonard supporters said the candidates platform is what attracted voters. David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) July 29, 2022 Only hundreds of votes. The state's attorney is elected to a four-year term and earns a salary of $216,749. Shellenberger painted Leonard, who has never been a prosecutor, as unprepared for the office. Were going to lose if we play defense, Haynes said. Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger has not had a Democratic primary challenger since he was first elected in 2006. The Department of Justice has an important role in . He pointed to the murder of George Floyd, the Freddie Gray case and the Gun Trace Task Force scandal. He said that 52 Baltimore County residents testified in favor of the legislation at a public hearing. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Leonard said the incumbents opposition to local police reform policies mobilized him to challenge Shellenberger. (WBFF) Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has won the Democratic primary after facing a strong challenge from progressive defense. Shellenbergers primary win comes as he takes time away from the office. 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. The office has declined to create written guidelines for review and prosecution of sexual offenses or to put in place the national best practices compiled by the task force. Leonard said that incarceration for drug offenses and prostitution doesnt work. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.s attempt to end an enhanced federal benefit program early. 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.. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. With roughly 35,000 Baltimore County ballots yet to be counted, the Democratic primary for state's attorney was extremely close Tuesday night, with hundreds of votes separating attorney and Maryland Democratic Party Secretary Robbie Leonard and longtime incumbent Scott Shellenberger. Other controversies in Baltimore Countys sexual assault investigations and prosecutions have ranged from the lack of testing and destruction of rape kits to authorities reluctance to bring criminal charges unless theres evidence a victim physically resisted. Friday marked the final day of counting for mail-in and provisional ballots in Baltimore County. 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. Published on: October 27, 2022 6:00 AM EDT|Updated on: October 27, 2022 9:21 AM EDT. He said his office now requires more documentation about its decisions to approve or decline charges in similar cases. 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. 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. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S. for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. One Republican, Al Nalley, ran unopposed. As I have told you, I do not believe we can prove your case, he said. 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. Attorney at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos from 1993-2006. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next Junes primary. What is the most pressing issue facing the county's State's Attorney's office? 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. If re-elected, Shellenberger plans to prioritize prosecuting violent crime, which has been on the rise in Baltimore County. Civil rights groups sued the county after last years redistricting process, alleging the plan unlawfully diluted Black residents votes. He vowed to continue to seek the fair administration of justice for and the protection of anyone residing in or visiting Baltimore County.. Juris doctor from University of Baltimore of School of Law in 1984. Some observers questioned the lackluster effort as Leonard rallied a grassroots progressive primary challenge to Shellenberger. It is also crucial to examine policy outcomes to make them race-neutral.. The states attorneys office is understaffed, he believes. Nonpartisan. 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. The public then expects a decision by their State's Attorney to pursue prosecution when appropriate. Were not going to say, Well, its a stalemate. Some areas, though, recently saw an uptick in homicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Riley said he helped the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee recruit Haynes to run and agreed to serve as the chairperson of his campaign. I believe that my sense of independence will be much greater, said Haynes, who added that he would run the office in a nonpartisan manner. 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. Gaskill has had bylines in The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune, among other publications. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. - 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. County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., who was elected in 2018, faced little competition in the Democratic race. Were one of the only large counties to certify its elections today, said County Elections Director Ruie Lavoie. Weve got to prosecute the bad guys and sometimes its going to be the police.. Baltimore Countys top prosecutor faces a progressive challenger in his first primary fight in 16 years. 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 . Published on: July 20, 2022 12:12 AM EDT|Updated on: July 22, 2022 6:28 PM EDT. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. an audit to examine possible racial disparities. Returns were. Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City. 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. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next June's primary. He said he feels that he has a greater diversity of experience than his opponent. 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. 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. By: Bryan P. Sears Juris doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1981. Especially for State's Attorney in Baltimore and Harford Counties. Both promised comments when the last votes were counted. 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. 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. Republican Tony Campbell was unopposed. ]. Currently, he is trailing Republican challenger Alison M. Healey by nearly 9,500 votes. 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. Shellenberger said that when the county began collecting test kit evidence, they had to make priorities as to which kits would be tested. For example, kits went untested in cases where both parties knew each other because identification wasnt an issue, he explained. The Democratic nominee will face either Republicans James A. Haynes or Deborah Hill in the November general election. He also wants to examine the juvenile justice system. According to a 2019 Baltimore Sun report, the Baltimore County Sexual Assault Investigations Task Force found that county police seldom tested evidence from sexual assault cases. Shellenberger has a close relationship with the Baltimore County Police Department, which has been questioned in the past. 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. Sure it helped, said Leonard. The Baltimore County Board of Elections certified the county's results Friday, following a week of counting thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots. (Ex: Low-level drug offenses vs. violent crimes with victims, etc.). Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger, left, a Democrat, and Jim Haynes, right, a Republican, are running against each other. 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. 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. This is accomplished by a multifaceted approach to crime. Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby lost her reelection bid to defense attorney Ivan Bates in the Democratic primary after she was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges. 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. Billionaire philanthropist George Soros is listed as the only contributor to the committee in the latest state campaign finance report, donating $884,000. The world has changed a lot in the last four years, Jaros 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. The Baltimore Sun typically does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault. The strength of Leonards candidacy, I think, suggests that the public has an appetite for criminal justice reform.. WYPO 106.9 FM Ocean City, PublishedSeptember 20, 2021 at 10:22 PM EDT. Leonard, who is secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party, ran on a progressive platform with the motto, Its time for a change., After the final results were announced, Shellenberger did not respond to a request for comment, but issued a statement through his campaign. I was involved actively in that process at both the County and State level. The race was marked by heavy outside spending by progressive political action committees that sought to unseat Shellenberger. But in the days that followed, Leonard saw his lead eroded as more than 87,000 mail-in votes were counted. The council elections took place under a newly drawn political map. Daily Record Government Reporter We need a change, Leonard said. McDonough denies he stole the sign and a trial is scheduled for Aug. 29. Vote-counting stretched on for more than a week because of the large number of mail-in ballots cast in Marylands primary election. Has Maryland gone too far, or far enough, when it comes to police reform? But the results took more than a week and initially Leonard led the 16-year incumbent by more than 800 votes. Assistant State's Attorney. Haynes, 72, of Rodgers Forge, is a retired administrative judge with the U.S. Department of Labor and a former state assistant attorney general. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. I believe the large majority of the officers have earned that respect. This is not a place to learn on the job.. Early numbers showed a very tight race, with the two separated by a fraction of a percentage point. The death of George Floyd opened many eyes to the need for significant change. These cookies do not store any personal information. [Live election results: Baltimore County primary results]. 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. On election day I got the most votes. 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. All I have asked is that those investigations be appropriately prompt. Haynes has called himself "a political. 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. I have never shied away from pursuing police officers when they have committed crimes which can be proven. 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. www.thebaltimorebanner.com 2022 The Baltimore Banner. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Baltimore County. Occupation: Baltimore County states attorney, 2007-present. 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. 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. When faced with holding police accountable, how should prosecutors navigate investigating and potentially bringing charges against an agency the office works closely with? Should certain crimes be prioritized and, if so, which? The way that we can prevent it from happening again is to get good sentences, in the area of violent crime. [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.].