Montgomery County Republican Central Committee Endorses the “Sitting Judges”
By Mark Uncapher MCGOP Chairman
Voting as a committee at the Maryland State Republican Convention in May, the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee voted unanimously to endorse the “Sitting Judges” in the upcoming primary election. Although these judges have all been appointed by Governor Hogan, the Maryland Constitution requires Circuit Court Judges to stand for election to a full term after being appointed by the governor.
The judges are:
- JUDGE JAMES A. BONIFANT
- JUDGE JEANNIE E. CHO
- JUDGE JILL R. CUMMINS
- JUDGE DEBRA L. DWYER
- JUDGE KEVIN G. HESSLER
- JUDGE DAVID W. LEASE
- JUDGE MARGARET M. SCHWEITZER
Each of the seven 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 during which 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 Judicial Nominating Commission in Montgomery County, all of whom were appointed by Governor Hogan include its Chair, Terry M. R. Zic and members Henry Kenneth Armstrong, Megan Leef Brown, John H. Harman, Robert B. Hetherington, Andrew Vladimir Jezic, Donna Ellen McBride, Sonia Wadhwa Nath, Dolores Newsuan-Reyes; Victor E. Palmeiro, Michael L. Rowan, Bruce L. Stern, and Daniel S. Willard.
The commission then conducted its own independent investigation of all applicants and thoroughly vetted and interviewed each one. A list of the most highly qualified candidates was sent by the commission to Governor Hogan, who interviewed and appointed the best of the best.