DJS needs to be overhauled

I am astounded that the vast majority of public figures seem to believe that the problem of juvenile criminals in schools will be resolved by improved communication between various educational entities so that their presence is known. A much better question is why they are allowed in the schools at all.

What kind of society do we live in where supposedly responsible government officials believe it is OK for convicted attempted murderers to roam freely in the general public, much less in our public schools? What kind of society do we live in where the rights of violent juvenile criminals supersede the safety of the public? What would have happened if the student arrested at Howard High School had been able to use his weapon and innocent lives were destroyed (“Howard High student arrested at school with gun in backpack, charged with Oct. 9 Columbia murder,” Oct. 16)?

Vincent Schiraldi needs to be removed immediately and the entire Department of Juvenile Services needs to be overhauled to better serve the citizens of Maryland. If the Governor refuses to do this, it is up to our legislators.

— Robert West, Ellicott City

Marylanders remember the real Larry Hogan

I had to laugh at Mike Gill’s cheerleading editorial about former Governor Larry Hogan (“Hogan opened Maryland for business as governor,” Oct. 18). High on enthusiasm, short on substance.

Here is what voters need to know about Governor Hogan’s unimaginative “open for business” slogan. The business he apparently was referring to was his, as he refused to put his business interests in blind trusts and tilted road building to favor his real estate. How can you possibly trust a leader who puts his interests first? It falls in the same category as Hogan claiming to be independent. Really, then be honest about it and register as one.

Thankfully, Marylanders remember the real Larry Hogan — millions of dollars in PPE masks that are useless and a hidden personal business agenda that raises many ethical questions.

— John Holman, Towson

Let the people decide who judges them

Upon reading the article, “Group recommends ending Maryland’s contested elections for circuit court judges” on Oct. 15, my first thought was here we go again. How utterly arrogant to state that they think so little of the public as to call them “ill-informed.” Our current judicial selection system is tilted toward those who have influence, money and power because those are the people who can pick up the phone and have the governor appoint someone of their choosing. Some of these judicial appointments end up being excellent. Some are poor decisions, and that’s being gracious. The public is very well informed about that, unfortunately.

But there is one thing that the current process has going for it. The people ultimately get to decide who sits in judgment of them. Make no mistake, that angers the powers that be, as they believe the public is too ignorant of such important matters or that they simply vote based on ballot position. The argument is absurd on its face. Voters come from all walks of life and all levels of knowledge, whether formally educated or not. Some of them, believe it or not, are smarter than the judges on the ballot. At the very least, they deserve to be heard. And not in some indirect, backroom discussions during judicial nominating commission hearings that are never public and never recorded.

We are now asked to believe that eliminating judicial elections will somehow provide the public more transparency about judicial appointments? I’m sorry, but after 37 years of practicing law, I know the opposite to be true. Attorneys with the courage to challenge a sitting circuit court judge understand that with the campaign comes the implicit “how dare you challenge a sitting judge.” It can be a career killer if you lose.

There is less confidence in the judiciary now than at any time in my career.

That’s at least partly because the public feels that they have no role in who gets these jobs unless, of course, you know someone who raised a ton of money for the governor. It’s the one thing that Republican governors and Democratic governors do equally well.

They reward their friends and friends of friends with these spots. Sometimes, the governor gets it right. Sometimes, he gets it wrong. But, at least in the circuit court, the public still gets a say. For now.

— Robert A. Brocato, Towson