Procedures to be followed by the Committee on Judicial Nominations for Upcoming Vacancy on the Circuit Court for Harford County

The Maryland Trial Courts’ Judicial Nominating Commission for Harford County and the Governor recommended that the Harford County Bar Association change its review of judicial applicants’ procedures to conform more closely to the processes used by the Maryland State Bar Association and other County Bar Associations.  As a result, the Executive Council approved a new procedure whereby the Harford County Bar Association Committee on Judicial Nominations will consider the following in its evaluation of candidates: (1) survey responses of the members of the Harford County Bar Association, (2) the Confidential Personal Data Questionnaire and writing samples of each candidate, (3) letters of recommendation or comment, and (4) personal knowledge.  The Committee will not conduct personal interviews.  The Committee will rate each candidate as “Highly Recommended,” “Recommended,” “Not Recommended at This Time,” “Not Recommended,” or “Insufficient Information.”  The Committee will issue a Confidential Report consisting of the Committee’s recommendation for each candidate, the breakdown of Committee members’ votes, and a concise written explanation for each recommendation.  The Report will be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts for distribution to the Trial Courts’ Judicial Nominating Commission for Harford County and to the Governor.

So that our Committee receives the Confidential Personal Data Questionnaires, each candidate’s Questionnaire must include an affirmative authorization for the release of the Confidential Personal Data Questionnaire to the “Harford County Bar Association”.  “Pool” candidates who have been nominated by the Judicial Nominating Commission within the past two years (and, therefore, not required to submit a new Confidential Personal Data Questionnaire) should submit a copy of their previous Confidential Personal Data Questionnaire and writing samples to me (at 139 North Main Street, Suite 100, Bel Air, Maryland 21014 or mleaf@pklaw.com) so that I can make them available to the Committee for consideration.  However, the Committee will evaluate and rate every candidate even if a copy of the Confidential Personal Data Questionnaire is not provided to the Committee.

The members of the Committee on Judicial Nominations are:  Ryan Anderson, Gus Brown, Mike Comeau, Tracey Delp, Bob Kahoe, Chair Mike Leaf, Wayne Norman, Carl Schlaich, Joe Snee, and Gail Spielberger, and Vice Chair Heather Yeung.  A member of the Committee who is or will be a candidate will not participate in any proceedings of the Committee.