St. Mary's Circuit Court judge voters guide

St. Mary's Circuit Court judge voters guide

Sue Ann Armitage

Town of residence: Drayden

Age: 58

Question 1: Under what circumstances would you consider imposing a sentence above state recommended guidelines?

Judges are given guidance about the reasons they can consider deviating upward from the guidelines. Those reasons include excessive level of harm and/or the vicious or heinous nature of conduct. I would consider all of these factors and weigh them accordingly. My guiding principle would be to protect the community from repeat violent offenders.

Question 2: Tell us a little bit about your background and experience for being a judge.

I have been a litigator for over 33 years. During that time, I have handled business matters, appellate cases, criminal cases and family law matters. I have represented insurance companies, business enterprises and individuals from all walks of life. I am the only candidate who has operated a business in St. Mary’s County. I have been named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. I received the Leadership in Law Award. I was designated one of the Top 25 Family Law attorneys in the state. The honor that I value more than all others is the State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award, which I received for providing free legal services to active duty military personnel. My community involvement is centered here, in St. Mary’s County. I have the endorsement of Tim Cameron, a former St. Mary’s sheriff, and many other law enforcement officers. They believe I am the better choice for keeping the community safe. I value their confidence in me, and I hope voters do too. I am honored to have been endorsed by current county commissioners Randy Guy and Mike Alderson as well as Barbara Thompson, a former county commissioner. I also have the support of community leader Gwen Bankins and former delegate John Bohanan. The diversity of my support reflects the diversity of my experience.

Question 3: What are your thoughts on the mandatory retirement age of 70 for Maryland Circuit Court Judges?

I don’t object to the rule regarding retirement at age 70. We are fortunate that many of our retired judges actually continue to hear cases, sitting in when there are conflicts of interest or unfilled vacancies. I have had some of my best experiences as a lawyer appearing before senior judges. So, we get the best of both worlds under the current system.

Amy Lorenzini

Town of residence: California

Age: 46

Question 1: Under what circumstances would you consider imposing a sentence above state recommended guidelines?

As a sitting judge, I am not permitted to offer an opinion on any issue that is likely to come before me and sentencing hearings come before me on a regular basis. I can also say that the Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy has provided guidance for when it is appropriate to sentence above guidelines. ... Over the past two years, while sitting as your Circuit Court judge, I have routinely sentenced individuals over the guidelines when warranted, including in distribution of fentanyl cases and in vehicular homicide cases.

Question 2: Tell us a little bit about your background and experience for being a judge?

I am your current St. Mary’s County Circuit Court judge. I was appointed by then-Gov. Larry Hogan in 2022. I started my legal career in St. Mary’s County in 2001, serving as a law clerk for Judge Marvin Kaminetz. I then practiced as a trial lawyer for 20 years, serving as a criminal prosecutor here in St. Mary’s County, criminal defense attorney, civil litigator, family law attorney, appellate attorney and general counsel to small businesses. I have tried thousands of jury and non-jury cases. ... As an attorney, I handled thousands of cases, including criminal jury trials, civil jury trials, property and zoning law cases, business law cases, contract disputes, appeals from administrative agencies, appeals from District Court, contested guardianship cases, adoptions, appellate cases, federal cases, family law and others. I am the only candidate with judicial experience. I have presided over nearly 30 jury trials ... I initiated and managed a family law clinic for over 10 years, I was a house manager for Christmas in April for 10 years, I was the secretary of the Evergreen Elementary School PTO and an assistant soccer coach with St. Mary’s Youth Soccer. Most recently, as a judge, I established a clinic for self-represented individuals involved in guardianships and have continued to volunteer with St. Mary’s Project Graduation, Special Olympics, the Clements Cuties Foundation, and with our local Lions Club. ... I was the chair of the Local Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services for over 10 years ... I have been the president and president-elect of local bar associations ... These roles have ensured that the interests of St. Mary’s County are properly represented and that we have a voice in our justice system.

Question 3: What are your thoughts on the mandatory retirement age of 70 for Maryland Circuit Court judges?

I do believe that a mandatory retirement age is reasonable and meets the needs of the community to have resilience in our justice system. I believe that Maryland deserves to have judges capable of completing the demanding tasks that are required of them. That being said, with advancements in science and technology, I do believe we should regularly be evaluating what the appropriate age of mandatory retirement should be. In addition, we should continue the tradition of allowing retired judges to continue sitting as senior judges so long as they are capable of performing the duties of the job.

MICHAEL REID