JP Election Brief: Judicial primaries and candidates gearing up

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Judicial elections


April 5, 2012

by: the State Court Staff


Every Thursday, Judgepedia's State Court Staff examines events in the world of judicial elections across the nation. Make sure to use Judgepedia's Election Central the rest of the week as a hub for all your judicial election needs.
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Underdogs triumph in two WI circuit court races

Wisconsin

In Milwaukee and Dane County there were two big upsets when judges appointed by Governor Scott Walker were ousted by non-incumbents. In Milwaukee County Carolina Maria Stark won 56% of the vote defeating incumbent Nelson W. Phillips, III in the race for the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.[1] In Dane County the race for the Dane County Circuit Court, Ellen K. Berz received 55% of the vote, defeating incumbent Roger A. Allen, who received only 44%.[2]

Related articles

Maryland primary results

Maryland

The state of Maryland held its primary election this week, on April 3. Though the primaries are partisan, judges running for re-election do so without party designation and thus appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots.[3] A number of judges were unopposed for re-election. Here are the outcomes of the contested Circuit Court races:

  • In the 2nd Circuit (Cecil County), Judges Jane Cairns Murray and Keith Baynes edged out challenger Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. All three candidates were filed on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. Murray and Baynes were both appointed in 2011 and are running for election to a full term.[4][5]
  • In the race for the 3rd Circuit, Harford County judgeship, incumbent Judge M. Elizabeth Bowen won in both primaries, receiving 74% of the Democratic votes and 54.8% of the Republican votes. She defeated challengers H. Edward Andrews, III and Steven J. Scheinin.[6]


Georgia election season heating up

Georgia

The election year is heating up in Georgia! Though the 2012 election will not take place until July 31, news coverage on elections has picked up and promises to be on the increase in the coming weeks. Candidates have also started announcing in advance of the May 25 filing deadline.

Two opinion pieces on elections have appeared in two separate Georgia newspapers in the last week, and more are certain to come as campaigning kicks up.[9][10] Both articles focus on Georgia politics at the state level, and the need to focus in attention on the local political happenings, despite the glitz and glamor of the presidential election. At Judgepedia this is exactly what we do! You can get coverage of state and local judicial elections and appointments and brush-up on local and state judicial structure.


Magistrate candidates kicked off Dona Ana County ballot

New Mexico

Two candidates hoping to compete for magistrate judge in Dona Ana County have been removed from the ballot by the county's clerk. Lynn Ellins explained that candidates for the position have additional requirements now that the county's population has passed 200,000. Previously, magistrates were not required to be licensed attorneys.[11]

Neither candidate accepts that explanation. Both Paul A. Martinez and Keith Lamonica are challenging the clerk's decision, albeit with different approaches. Martinez is represented by an attorney as he challenges the order in the New Mexico Supreme Court, while Lamonica will represent himself in the Third Judicial District Court.[11]

Lamonica suspects foul play, stating that the removal of two Democratic candidates allows Republican Governor Susana Martinez to appoint a magistrate to the vacancy. The former candidate says Ellins' decision was "arbitrary and capricious, discriminatory, and a clear violation of the rational basis test of the equal protection clause."[11]

That, of course, will be for the New Mexico state courts to decide.

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See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ the Journal Sentinel, "Incumbents prevail in Milwaukee County Board races," April 3, 2012
  2. ↑ The Capital Times, "Crime and Courts: Incumbent Allen falls to Berz in circuit court race," April 4, 2012
  3. ↑ Explore Howard, "Incumbents Gelfman, Tucker win Circuit Court judge race," April 4, 2012
  4. ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Presidential Primary Election results, Judicial Circuit 2"
  5. ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Cecil's primary election features big fields for first county executive and an interesting judicial contest," March 29, 2012
  6. ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Presidential Primary Election results, Judicial Circuit 3"
  7. ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Presidential Primary Election results, Judicial Circuit 5"
  8. ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "2012 Presidential Primary Election results, Judicial Circuit 7"
  9. ↑ Athens Banner-Herald, “Garland: Ethics should be focus of election season,” March 31, 2012
  10. ↑ Savannah Morning News, “Political Notes: Chatham County politics likely will focus inward for rest of year,” April 1, 2012
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Alamogordo Daily News, "Dona Ana clerk outs 2 magistrate candidates from primary ballot," March 30, 2012
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