The sixth circuit of Maryland's Circuit Court is comprised of Montgomery and Frederick Counties (map). There are two judges which must stand for election in 2008, Robert Alan Greenberg and Mary Beth McCormick. Neither is opposed, so it seems that neither is in danger of not retaining their judgeship (with a 15 years and the salary $140,352 per year).
However, I take my votes seriously as a matter of conscience, even if they are merely an affirmative formality, as this vote seems to be, so look below the fold, if you care to see what I was able to find out about the two candidates...
First off, there are some things both candidates have in common. Both were appointed to the Sixth Circuit Court in 2006 by Maryland Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich. Both live in Gaithersburg. Both seem to be supported by the Sitting Judges of the Montgomery County Circuit Court (pdf) which in turn are supported by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. It's good to have the support of ones colleagues on the court and the Central Committee of the county's dominant political party. Additionally both have signed the Candidate Acknowledgement Form, agreeing to abide by the the Maryland Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee Standards (site), which remarkably is not a given. Both hold degrees from University of Baltimore School of Law and both are currently active judges on the sixth circuit court. The similarity seems to end there.
Robert Alan Greenberg believes that the court's burden should be reduced by efforts to promote both civil and criminal arbitration outside the courts. Greenberg believes access to legal services can be axpanded with more funding to the public defenders, legal aide bureau and the bar association's pro bono program.
In his two years on the court, Greenberg's most publicized decision (news) was ruling in favor of Citizens for Responsible Government who were challenging Montgomery County's recently enacted gender ID bill (anti-discrimination law to protect the rights of transgendered citizens). Greenberg found that the Equality Maryland advocacy group filed to challenge petition signatures after the legal deadline, thus the petitions were certified, opening the way for a public referendum (Question C) on the law in November 2008. Greenberg cleaved to the letter of the law in the most narrowest of senses while agreeing that there were insufficient petitions (the 5% voter petition threshhold should include 52,000 inactive voters to determine total signatures needed). I do not think Greenberg displayed neutral judgement in this matter. Subsequently, Question C was removed from the ballot by Maryland Court of Appeals order on September 9th, 2008 that reversed Greenberg's decision ordering Greenberg to dismiss the petitions as being insufficient in number and quality(pdf).
Mary Beth McCormick believes more work must be done to reduce the cost of legal recourse so that fewer people choose to represent themsleves and if they do, then expanding online resources to help should improve the process. McCormick asserts the circuit court needs to have all of it's functions in one up to date building. In 1996, before becoming a judge, McCormick made a contribution of $200 to the Democratic State Central Committee of Maryland.
There seem to have been no high profile cases before Mary Beth McCormick during her tenure on the Sixth Circuit Court, however, McCormick has a long history as a Montgomery County District Court Judge. Perhaps, the most high profile case occirred in 2004, when McCormick sentenced Albert A. Gore (son of former VP Al Gore) to an intervention program as first time drug possessors (he was caught in Bethesda driving erratically and in possession of Marijuana) (site). Most of the other stories in which McCormick is mentioned, she is mainly setting bond or denying it quite sensibly to likely flight risks. McCormick has brown-bagged it with product liability defense lawyers as a District Judge (site)
ENTERIK'S RECOMMENDATION: As I've stated previously, current case loads are high and there seems to be a dearth of judicial challengers in elections these days so both unopposed candidates are likely to be "elected". Still, as an informed and conscientious voter I'm going to take every vote seriously.
I will ABSTAIN from voting for Robert Alan Greenberg because his lack of judicial authority. He should have exerted some authority other than enforce existing guidelines in the narrowest way.
I will vote FOR Mary Beth McCormick because she seems to support treatment for drug possession charges and because she seems to make sensible decisions when setting bond as a District Court judge where she has had extensive experience.