I believe that while history will be the final judge, our outlook will fall somewhere in between the above two ends, but much closer to the former. It can be our finest hour even if we have to take a few painful lumps in the process. The legal community of Baltimore County has had its own recent test. Of course, I m referring to the judicial election in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. However, there are residuals from it which, hopefully, time will resolve.
Ballots are on everyone s mind, especially in Florida.
I have no doubt that the form of ballots everywhere will be studiously examined to ensure that the recent problems, which have been so painstakingly reported, will be minimized, if not eliminated in future elections. The BCBA membership participates in the selection of a new judge for our Circuit and District courts by use of a survey that allows an individual member to give his or her opinion on the judicial qualifications of each candidate. It is not a vote, but a survey. However, the results of other candidates are given to no one other than the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission for Baltimore County. The Commission, in turn, considers the survey tabulation along with other information they have received when they consider the various judicial applicants.