Todd Oppenheim
Todd Oppenheim was a 2016 candidate for the Eighth Circuit Court in Maryland.[1] He was defeated in the primary election on April 26, 2016.
Biography
Oppenheim received a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 1999 and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore in 2003. He became an attorney at the Baltimore City Public Defender's Office in 2004 and previously served a law clerk for one year.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Oppenheim participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies him to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | As a public defender, I have worked in the Baltimore courts for over 11 years. I know them inside out. I have excelled at every level of litigation, trying over 75 jury trials and litigating countless judge trials, hearings, and motions. I have also represented clients in family court, conducted civil probation hearings, and defended clients in District Court. I completed the prestigious National Criminal Defense College in Macon, Georgia in 2010. I have given seminars for my colleagues on issues like jury selection. Additionally, I write and speak in the community about equal justice issues. I visit jails and I know people in all areas of the city. I can truly represent the citizens[2][3] | ” |
When asked why he was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I want to bring a new perspective, vitality and energy to the bench. I will uphold the law, but in doing so I will use my understanding of the problems with system like bail, stops and searches of people on the street, and the war on drugs- which judges have discretion to affect. I want fairness across the board so black people and poor people feel EQUAL JUSTICE. On a larger scale, we need more accessibility and openness for citizens so that they regain a trust in the justice system.[2][3] | ” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who he admires, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Thurgood Marshall[2][3] | ” |
When asked about his primary concern regarding today's judicial system in his state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | It is broken. Black people and poor people are not treated equally. We need to create a level playing field so that certain citizens do not get every benefit of the legal system while others are left behind. The fact is; if you are rich, the system works well. Equal justice has to be available to everyone.[2][3] | ” |
Elections
2016
Maryland held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on April 26, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 3, 2016.[4] The following candidates ran in the Maryland 8th Circuit Court primary election for Baltimore City.[1]
| Maryland 8th Circuit Court (Baltimore City), Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Shannon E. Avery Incumbent |
16.59% | 81,236 |
| Cynthia H. Jones Incumbent |
15.32% | 74,999 |
| Karen Friedman Incumbent |
14.64% | 71,697 |
| Wanda Keyes Heard Incumbent |
14.38% | 70,421 |
| Audrey J. S. Carrion Incumbent |
13.63% | 66,718 |
| Michael A. DiPietro Incumbent |
13.18% | 64,554 |
| James B. Kraft | 6.74% | 33,011 |
| Todd Oppenheim | 5.52% | 27,023 |
| Total Votes | 489,659 | |
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Judge of the Circuit Court," May 31, 2016 | ||
| Maryland 8th Circuit Court (Baltimore City), Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Michael A. DiPietro Incumbent |
16.63% | 4,902 |
| Shannon E. Avery Incumbent |
14.79% | 4,359 |
| Karen Friedman Incumbent |
12.41% | 3,656 |
| Cynthia H. Jones Incumbent |
12.24% | 3,608 |
| Audrey J. S. Carrion Incumbent |
12.09% | 3,563 |
| James B. Kraft |
11.34% | 3,341 |
| Wanda Keyes Heard Incumbent | 10.29% | 3,033 |
| Todd Oppenheim | 10.20% | 3,006 |
| Total Votes | 29,468 | |
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Judge of the Circuit Court," May 31, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Assisted appointment
The 152 judges of the eight Maryland circuits are chosen by the governor with help from a nominating commission. The judges of this court do not need to be confirmed by the Maryland State Senate.[5][6]
Circuit judges serve for one year, after which they must run in nonpartisan elections if they wish to continue serving.[7] If re-elected, they serve for 15 years.[5][6]
The chief judge of each circuit court is chosen by seniority.[5]
Qualifications
To join either of these courts, a judge must be:[5]
- a U.S. and state citizen;
- a registered state voter;
- a state resident for at least five years;
- a circuit resident for at least six months;
- a state bar member;
- at least 30 years old; and
- under the age of 70 (retirement at 70 is mandatory).
See also
External links
- Maryland State Board of Elections, "2016 Candidate Listing: Judge of the Circuit Court"
- Official campaign website
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maryland State Board of Elections, "2016 Candidate Listing: Judge of the Circuit Court," February 4, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2016, "Todd Oppenheim's Responses," February 17, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Election Dates," accessed February 4, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Maryland," archived October 27, 2010
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 American Judicature Society, "Judicial Selection in the States: Maryland; Overview," archived October 26, 2010
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Judicial Elections," accessed January 19, 2015
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maryland • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maryland
State courts:
Maryland Supreme Court • Appellate Court of Maryland • Maryland District Courts • Maryland Circuit Courts • Maryland Orphans' Court
State resources:
Courts in Maryland • Maryland judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maryland
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