VOTE FOR THE SITTING JUDGES SLATE
Judge Bibi M. Berry, Judge David A. Boynton,
Judge Christopher C. Fogleman and Judge Michael J. McAuliffe
The 2020 Primary Election Day is Tuesday June 2, 2020.
This election will be primarily conducted by mail-in ballot. Each registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail by mid-May.
Completed mail-in ballot must be returned and postmarked by 8:00PM June 2, 2020.
Alternatively, completed mail-in ballots may also be hand delivered between
May 21, 2020 and June 2, 2020 to the following drop off locations:
Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road Germantown, MD 20874
Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike Burtonsville, MD 20866
Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Activity Center at Bohrer Park Social Hall, 506 S. Frederick Avenue Gaithersburg, MD 20877
*Montgomery County Board of Elections, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (drop off only)
Early Election Days Voting: May 21 – 28, 2020 10am – 8pm
Primary Election Day Voting: June 2, 2020 7am – 8pm
We need your help to educate Montgomery
County voters about the slate of our sitting judges.
THE SITTING JUDGE PRINCIPLE
People may wonder why these judges on the “Elect Sitting Judges Montgomery County Slate” are running for election. The Maryland Constitution requires Circuit Court Judges to stand for election to a full term after being appointed by the Governor. What many people do not know is that each of the sitting judges standing for election has been through a rigorous vetting process that seeks to ensure that only the most qualified attorneys are eligible for appointment to the bench by the Governor.
Since 1970, pursuant to a Gubernatorial Executive Order, which has since been followed by every Governor, Democrat and Republican, the Montgomery County Judicial Nominating Commission, whose primary responsibility is to screen candidates for judicial office, vets and nominates lawyers to fill vacancies on the Circuit Court. Lawyers nominated by the Commission must meet exceptional standards of legal aptitude and must be the “most distinguished for integrity, wisdom and sound legal knowledge” as dictated by the Maryland Constitution.
The four judges on the “Elect Sitting Judges Montgomery County Slate” – the incumbents in the upcoming election – have gone through the Judicial Nominating Commission process. The process started with a lengthy and comprehensive application covering all aspects of their education, breadth and depth of law practice, and personal background. Each judge’s application was submitted to no fewer than twelve diverse bar associations, each of which conducted its own investigation and interviews. In addition, the Bar Association of Montgomery County conducted a referendum wherein each applicant’s qualifications were subjected to a vote by every member of the bar association. The results of both the referendum and the specialty bar association interviews were provided to the Judicial Nominating Commission. The Commission then conducted its own independent investigation of all applicants and thoroughly vetted and interviewed each. A list of the most highly qualified candidates was sent by the Commission to the Governor, who interviewed and appointed the best of the best.
The Sitting Judge Principle ensures that Montgomery County has only the most qualified judges on the bench. The diverse organizations that participate in the vetting process have ensured the appointment of a bench that reflects our community. The Sitting Judges are experienced, vetted and approved.
We need your help to educate Montgomery
County voters about the slate of our sitting judges.
Voting in person may be done on Primary Election Day, Tuesday June 2, 2020 between 7:00AM and 8:00PM
