Who is Maryland’s top legal newsmaker?

December 19, 2007

The American Bar Association picked Alberto Gonzales. The Wall Street Journal’s law bloggers picked a frequent commenter only as “Loyola 2L.”

Everyone else seems to be naming a Legal Newsmaker of the Year, so why not us? Which member of the Maryland bar has had the greatest impact — positive or negative — on Maryland law or the Maryland legal community this year?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

* Gov. Martin O’Malley, who, by not acting to change the state’s lethal-injection protocols, has continued a de facto moratorium on executions.

* Court of Appeals Judge Glenn T. Harrell, who wrote the majority opinion in the gay marriage case (PDF).

* U.S. Attorney/4th Circuit judicial nominee Rod J. Rosenstein, whose office wrapped up the Thomas Bromwell case this year. (subscriber-only link)

* Baltimore County Circuit Judge Susan M. Souder, who ruled that fingerprint evidence is not scientifically reliable enough to be admitted in a death-penalty case; or Patrick Kent, chief of the forensics division in the Office of the Public Defender, who raised the argument.

* Paul W. Minnich (yes, he’s admitted in Maryland), whose York, Pa.-based law firm was lead counsel for the father of Matthew Snyder, the Marine whose funeral was picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church. A jury in federal court in Baltimore awarded $10.9 million in damages. Or, how about Jonathan L. Katz, who represented the church in that same action?

What do you think?

CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer 

Sphere: Related Content

Posted by The Daily Record | Filed Under law, maryland 

Comments

One Response to “Who is Maryland’s top legal newsmaker?”

  1. Anonymous on December 20th, 2007 7:36 am

    Top legal newsmaker as in makes national news and makes you ashamed you’re a member of the Maryland Bar? Judge Souder.

Got something to say?





Business

The business staff of The Daily Record newspaper will contribute to this section. We'll write about topics ranging from the workplace to energy to the environment, but we'll strive to keep it as local as possible.

RSS Business posts

Law

The Daily Record’s been Maryland’s legal newspaper for 120 years or so. Now, we want to be Maryland’s legal blog, too. Click here to join the discussion and read posts by our legal team, including our Monday law blog round-up.

RSS Law posts

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous: I think the recent rise in wine festivals is due to ever-increasing alcohol abuse. For some reason,...
  • Anonymous: I know people who have tried overnight delivery of luggage with great success. Easy to check in, easy to...
  • Anonymous: Newspapers will cater to their clientele. The unwashed masses prefer knowing the scores in last...
  • Anne Riley: The intern takes offense.
  • Jerry: I hope they have marble ryes.