As I reflect on my year so far as MSBA President, I am proud of the work we have undertaken to advance the interests of our members, the legal profession, and the public we serve. One of my primary initiatives has been to strengthen judicial security.
Through the Judicial Security Task Force, I have worked alongside a wide array of stakeholders to develop recommendations to improve courthouse security across Maryland. These efforts aim to ensure the safety of judges, attorneys, litigants, court personnel, and all who enter our courthouses.
Beyond my work at the state level, I have also taken this issue to the national stage. I led MSBA's effort to introduce a resolution at the American Bar Association's midyear meeting in Phoenix.
Strengthening Our Profession: Advocating
for Judicial Security, Election Reform, and Tax-Free Legal Services
This resolution encourages all state and local governments to adopt measures akin to the Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson Judicial Security Act by establishing task forces to examine courthouse security and recommend improvements. Notably, this resolution is the first that MSBA introduced at the ABA level, a milestone in our organization’s history.
Another key priority during my tenure has been to address the judicial election process in Maryland. Currently, circuit court judges at the trial level are required to run in contested elections. This practice presents several challenges. Sitting judges are bound by ethical obligations to remain impartial and nonpartisan, yet political campaigning undermines this responsibility. Additionally, the expectation for attorneys to contribute to judicial campaigns raises ethical concerns and potential conflicts of interest, particularly if attorneys feel their relationships with judges could be affected by their support— or lack thereof.
Sitting judges go through a rigorous appointment process that prioritizes inclusivity and ensures the most qualified individuals are selected for our benches. This makes contested elections unnecessary. We are advocating for legislation this session to replace contested elections with retention
elections, a process already in place for appellate judges. Such a change would enhance public trust in the judiciary and uphold its commitment to impartiality and fairness.
MSBA remains the primary advocate for Maryland’s legal profession. Our mission is to ensure attorneys can effectively practice law, serve their clients, and earn a living while doing so. With Maryland facing a significant budget deficit, the legislature has repeatedly considered taxing legal services as a funding source. Over the past five years, MSBA has consistently stepped in to oppose and defeat such proposals. This year, we remain vigilant in Annapolis to protect the legal profession and the public from the harmful consequences of taxing legal services.
However, MSBA’s voice can only be as strong as its membership. To amplify our impact, I ask every member to recruit one additional colleague to join MSBA. By growing our membership, we strengthen our collective voice, ensuring that when we advocate, we do so loudly and effectively on behalf of the entire legal profession.
Let’s work together to make MSBA stronger and even more effective.
Raphael J. Santini, President
