It’s the same advice I got 26 years ago. Pick your spots. Don’t stick your nose and your voice into lots of issues. Become knowledgeable and respected on a few issues instead. I had just been elected to the House of Delegates when a former committee chairman gave me this advice. Today, a freshman delegate …more >
What are the facts of this case? Every law student lives in dread of being asked that question – by your professor, in front of your classmates. A satisfactory answer doesn’t get you off the hook. You will then be asked what the court decided and most importantly, why it reached that outcome. In preparation …more >
How does the legislature communicate with the judiciary? That’s not a theoretical question. I’m working on two bills where it’s very important to express legislative intent. What does “reasonable accommodation” mean? That’s the key phrase in my bill that would require an apartment owner or condominium association to make a “reasonable accommodation” for the religious …more >
If you know you’re breaking the law, you’ve committed a crime. Without that knowledge, it’s only a civil violation. For certain provisions of our election law, I was reminded today, you can be found guilty of a criminal or civil violation, depending upon your state of mind. My tutorial arose in an email exchange about …more >
Jobs will be saved. Cuts won’t be made. That was the Governor’s very good news message at a press conference yesterday to herald the impact of federal recovery/stimulus money on the state budget. I believe that the stimulus package will accomplish two things. * Repair the safety net for those of us who have lost …more >
I thought this would happen. My committee had just taken preliminary action on House Bill 45, Crimes – Tattooing, Branding, and Body Piercing – Parental Consent. Someone could offer a floor amendment requiring parental consent before a minor could obtain an abortion, I commented to some of my colleagues last Friday. My next step was …more >
Someone who violates a criminal law can lose their life, their liberty, or their license. While our Senate counterparts listened to Governor O’Malley testify for repeal of the death penalty, the House Judiciary Committee held hearings on eight drunk driving bills. The argument for tougher penalties: the state’s ability to protect the safety of the …more >
“It’s early,” I said. Survey of state Senate finds narrow majority oppose repeal read the headline across the front page of today’s Baltimore Sun. So I sought to calm the waters at the start of our weekly strategy meeting on death penalty repeal. I also noted that vote counts are fluid before the public hearing …more >
Today, I preached to the converted. Governor O’Malley had already spoken to the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) ministers and congregants. Repeal of the death penalty was one of the issues he discussed. Not an enviable position for me to be in on the program. I quoted Nelson Mandela at the dedication of the new Constitutional …more >
I try to practice what I preach. “Don’t use notes when you’re testifying on a bill or making your oral argument,” I tell my law school students. “Know the issue well enough so that you don’t need notes as a crutch.” I spoke without notes when I testified on my voting rights and Lilly Ledbetter …more >
