| Questions asked of the Judges of the Circuit Court
Q1: Last night we heard about gang violence being on the rise. How do you plan to help law officials control gangs in the county?
Q2: The county detention center is overcrowded. What would you do from the bench to help reduce the overcrowding? What alternatives to incarceration would you consider?
Q3: What is your position on changing the election of judges to non-partisan and giving independent voters a vote in the primary election?
Q4: Do you believe that the process to select Circuit Court judges in the state of Maryland is a proper process? If not, How would you change it? Did you go through the selection process? If not, why didn't you?
Background: A circuit court generally handles more serious criminal cases, major civil cases, including juvenile and other family law cases such divorce, custody and child support and most cases appealed from the District Court, orphans’ courts and certain administrative agencies. Circuit courts also hear domestic violence cases. Each County and the City of Baltimore has a circuit court. Cases may involve juries or sometimes are heard by a judge only. Judge of the Circuit Court candidates are not affiliated with a political party.
Note: The questions were submitted by members of the audience and selected by the LWV staff. In some cases, more than one question was consolidated into a single topic for the candidates. Since the questions are framed by the audience, some things may be implied that are not necessarily true. |