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He took office in 2007. Haynes, 72, of Rodgers Forge, is a retired administrative judge with the U.S. Department of Labor and a former state assistant attorney general. (AP Photo/Piper Blackburn). 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. Now the Democratic incumbent will have a Republican challenger, and that's only if he can win the contested Democratic primary. 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. If Leonard clinches the Democratic nomination, hell have ousted one of the most prominent voices on law enforcement and criminal justice in Annapolis. Danielle E. Gaines contributed to this report. Were often hearing from survivors that they want justice, said Rodriguez. Republican Tony Campbell was unopposed. If you say youre going to fight crime, fight crime.. As states attorney, Shellenberger said, he constantly makes changes. 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. I have worked during my entire tenure as State's Attorney to run an office that applies the prosecution of crime even-handedly regardless of race or social position. 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. He announced in May that he is running for a fifth term. Leonard spoke frequently of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. The death of George Floyd opened many eyes to the need for significant change. 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. We will see with time if the appropriate balance has been reached. He supports diverting low-level offenses out of the criminal justice system and wants to conduct a racial equity audit examining prosecutorial practices. WYPF 88.1 FM Frederick A woman confronted Shellenberger at a local Democratic club meeting in mid-May to ask why prosecutors did not bring criminal charges in her 2018 rape case. The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S. for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 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. 72. Shellenberger has cruised to reelection for more than a decade. Leonard said his campaign that ended in a narrow defeat should be seen as a signal for change in the countys criminal justice system. Attorney Robbie Leonard said Monday he will challenge Shellenberger in next Junes primary. Returns were incomplete Tuesday evening, with polls closing at 8 p.m. and a large number of ballots yet to be counted. Shellenberger has frequently opposed progressive criminal justice legislation in Annapolis. Leonard will make his bid for Baltimore County States Attorney official on Saturday. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.s attempt to end an enhanced federal benefit program early. 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. Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Baltimore County. Attorney at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos from 1993-2006. But Haynes said the incumbent is not doing enough to address violent crime. His sole challenger was Adam Reuter, whose campaign focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to COVID-19. He said hed like to post information about the office and its results as a measure of transparency on the website. Leonard portrayed Shellenberger as out of step with todays Democrats, someone who hadnt changed with the times. 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. State Del. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Vote-counting stretched on for more than a week because of the large number of mail-in ballots cast in Marylands primary election. Reached by phone Tuesday night, Leonard said that he knew the election wouldnt be decided until mail-in ballots are counted. The public then expects a decision by their State's Attorney to pursue prosecution when appropriate. You can unsubscribe from these alerts at anytime. If you say youre going to ring the bell, ring the bell, said Haynes, whos also a retired federal appellate administrative law judge. I am committed to fight for the victims and a hope for peace in their lives after my office has achieved justice for them. I think that we do that every day.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. We have, I believe, balanced the issues of prosecution and public safety very carefully, Shellenberger said. He fulfilled a lifelong dream when elected State's Attorney for Baltimore County in 2006, and was re-elected in 2010, 2014 and 2018. [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.]. 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. The woman disputed Shellenbergers suggestion that her story changed and said he told her last year he believed her allegation because she was consistent.. 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 also said Leonards out-of-state support was troubling. 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 2019, state and local lawmakers passed bills to fund testing of previously untested kits and set standards for testing kits in the future. NR: not reported. At the end of the day, Robbie garnered so much support because so many people supported his vision, Rev. He described that practice as unprofessional, stating that its wrong to mix public service with considerations of political loyalty. 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. The Republican primary, meanwhile, attracted six candidates. 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? I have spent the majority of my career in public service, serving 14 years as a senior assistant state's attorney in the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office, and now working in the . Assistant State's Attorney. Some areas, though, recently saw an uptick in homicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sign up to get the Maryland Matters Memo in your inbox every morning. 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. This is accomplished by a multifaceted approach to crime. And the voters of Baltimore County deserve that change.. My priority in running for states attorney is having a fair, transparent and accountable criminal justice system in the States Attorneys Office things that we dont have here, Leonard said. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. We are active participants in problem solving courts in appropriate cases where the primary focus is treatment rather than incarceration. Campaign website: www.haynesforbaltimorecounty.com, www.thebaltimorebanner.com 2022 The Baltimore Banner. So what we learned in this campaignwe just have to start earlier in making that contrast between the 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 incarceration for drug offenses and prostitution doesnt work. I have stressed that during my time as the State's Attorney to all who work for me. It noted there were continuing challenges for police and prosecutors interviewing victims with disabilities or mental health issues. 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. The criminals havent scored any more points, he later added. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. He has emphasized positive steps made in response to criticisms, such as increased testing of rape kits. Where do you see room for improvement in how sexual assault survivors are treated by law enforcement and prosecutors? The prosecutor, Lisa Dever, told The Sun her intent was to explain you cant know jurors past experiences or what theyll bring to a case. Shellenberger said he intended to help the woman and did not want the men to sue her for claims such as false arrest. About 2,100 votes separated the two. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The 2021 audit also found more standardized documentation of prosecutors review of police cases. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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. People in the community, he said, want to be safe from violent crime. The Republican candidates are James Haynes, a retired attorney who previously worked as an administrative judge for the U.S. Department of Labor and at the state attorney general and public defender offices, and Deborah Hill, who has represented state employee retirees in a lawsuit challenging a reduction in their prescription drug benefits. 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. 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. 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. Baltimore, Maryland Area. He is a graduate of Loch Raven High School, Loyola College and the University of Baltimore School of Law. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. Were going to lose if we play defense, Haynes said. McDonough faces a misdemeanor theft charge in connection with allegations he stole a Badillo campaign sign in Parkville. The Democratic nominee will face either Republicans James A. Haynes or Deborah Hill in the November general election. Unofficial results from the Maryland State Board of Elections showed a tight race from the votes garnered during the state's early voting period, with the candidates just 64 votes apart. Leonard said the incumbents opposition to local police reform policies mobilized him to challenge Shellenberger. 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. The race was marked by heavy outside spending by progressive political action committees that sought to unseat Shellenberger. 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. David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) July 29, 2022 Only hundreds of votes. The articles title is a quote from Leonard about mishandled sexual assault cases in the county: We dont know how many women are out there like that.. Review of sentences is another issue. That doesnt mean that everybody goes to jail, he said. The council elections took place under a newly drawn political map. 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. Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City. I have never shied away from pursuing police officers when they have committed crimes which can be proven. 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. Juris doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1981. Leonard said arresting possible human trafficking victims preposterous. The Maryland PAC is affiliated with the national Justice & Public Safety PAC, which has helped fund progressive prosecutor candidates in Virginia and Pennsylvania in recent years. 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. Apr 2013 - Sep 20141 year 6 months. 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. It is also crucial to examine policy outcomes to make them race-neutral.. . 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. With a larger staff, Haynes said, the office would be able to better cooperate with police in building cases and cut down on postponements. 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. 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