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Dear Montgomery County Voter:

          For more than 40 years, the "Sitting Judge Principle" has ensured that Montgomery County has only the most qualified judges on the bench. This principle guarantees an independent judiciary made up of men and women who have subjected themselves to rigorous scrutiny and examination.

          To keep the judiciary removed from the political process, the Governor appoints judges to the Circuit Court after potential nominees have proven themselves qualified during a detailed and vigorous screening process. The Governor can only appoint judges from a list of nominees who have been found to be "fully qualified". (The details of this process and the judicial application are available on this website for your review.)

          New judges must give up successful careers to accept appointment. The judges must subsequently stand for election if they wish to then serve a full 15-year term.

          This procedure for appointment and subsequent election provides lawyers and the public the opportunity to observe our Sitting Judges during the actual performance of their judicial duties. Sitting Judges are then able to run for office on the basis of their records and to be elected based upon their qualifications, experience and competence. In both the primary and general elections the Sitting Judges cross file on both party's ballots without designation of party affiliation.

          Candidates for the Circuit Court who choose to stand for election rather than come to the bench through gubernatorial appointment do not undergo the same detailed and vigorous investigation required for an appointment to the Court.

          There are six Sitting Judges who will come before the public in 2002 for retention. As Judges of the Circuit Court, they have continued to demonstrate the highest standards of judicial ethics and performance and deserve our support. Please join us in supporting our six Sitting Judges on September 10th - Chief Judge DeLawrence Beard, Judge John Debelius, Judge Joe Dugan, Judge William Rowan III, Judge Eric Johnson, and Judge Ann Sundt. Copies of their biographies are posted for your information.

          We urge you to join us in supporting these fine judges and the "Sitting Judge Principle" which gives us the kind of jurists we need on the bench - judges who are independent, tested and proven.

          The "Sitting Judge Principle" has been endorsed by the Central Committees of the Democratic and Republican parties of Maryland and the Maryland State Bar Association.