Hantman

Three nominees, including two from the public sector, have been added to a short list of candidates forwarded to Gov. Parris N. Glendening for the Howard District Court vacancy created by the June 28 death of Judge C. James "Kit" Sfekas. The three - a Howard assistant state's attorney, an assistant attorney general and a Columbia-based private practice lawyer - join a pool of four candidates who were interviewed by the governor for another judicial vacancy this year and are considered finalists for the current opening.

When departing Gov. Parris N. Glendening appointed veteran prosecutor Sue-Ellen Hantman to the Howard District Court bench this month, he created a judicial first. For the first time, women will outnumber men on a Howard judicial bench. And it is believed to be the first majority female bench statewide in a court with more than one judge, state officials say. With Hantman's swearing in Thursday, women judges in Howard District Court will outnumber men 3-2. The two county benches combined - Circuit and District courts - will feature an even split.

When departing Gov. Parris N. Glendening appointed veteran prosecutor Sue-Ellen Hantman to the Howard District Court bench earlier this month, he created a judicial first. For the first time, women will outnumber men on a Howard judicial bench. And it is believed to be the first majority female bench statewide in a court with more than one judge, state officials say. With Hantman's swearing in Thursday, women judges in Howard District Court will outnumber men 3-2. The two county benches combined -- Circuit and District courts -- will feature an even split.

THIS WON'T be an easy election for voters in the 14th Legislative District. Although served by able incumbents, they will have to decide whether they might be better represented by very formidable challengers. It's an enviable position for residents of this sprawling district that includes much of central and western Howard County as well as parts of northern Montgomery County. Whoever wins Nov. 3, the people won't lose.A familiar name is in the race against two-term Republican Sen. Christopher J. McCabe.

Bar association elects Robert Guth as its president Robert W. Guth, a Columbia attorney, has been elected president of the Howard County Bar Association for 2001-2002. Senior State's Attorney Sue-Ellen Hantman of Ellicott City is president-elect. Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure of Ellicott City is secretary, and Mary C. Reese of Reese & Carey, Columbia, is treasurer. Charles Bell to serve on GOP business council Charles M. Bell of Ellicott City has been appointed to serve on the Business Advisory Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee, in recognition of his dedication to the Republican Party.

A 45-year-old man was convicted last week of second-degree attempted murder and other charges in the stabbing of a Columbia man in the victim's home.Charles E. Fitzgerald, of no fixed address, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 18 for second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and telephone misuse.Fitzgerald was upset at a former friend, David Seay, 28, of the 10400 block of Blue Arrow Way. On March 7, he went to Seay's house and stabbed him several times with a pair of scissors, authorities said.

A prominent Prince George's County judge charged with groping a policeman in an Annapolis Mall bathroom asked for a Circuit Court trial in Anne Arundel County yesterday, after a district judge refused to inactivate the case without a finding of guilt or innocence.The request will give Larnzell Martin Jr., 47, of the Prince George's County Circuit Court a chance to find a judge who might accept the agreement worked out between his lawyer and the prosecutor. Other options are trial by jury or by a judge, or to enter a different plea.

If you had any doubts about the disarray the local Democratic Party finds itself in, you only had to attend its central committee meeting at Democratic headquarters Monday night.The first thing you would have noticed is the room -- holes in the walls, exposed lighting fixtures, Spartan furniture.Then you would have heard the treasurer's report: electric and phone bills unpaid, $1,100 needed for something called a "mail house."The Democrats obviously need a new headquarters, and committee chairwoman Sue-Ellen Hantman said she's found one, but didn't sign a lease because she was not sure the party would be able to pay the rent -- $185 a month for an office and $15 a month for a meeting room in Stonehouse in Columbia.

A prominent Prince George's County judge charged with groping a policeman in an Annapolis Mall bathroom asked for a Circuit Court trial in Anne Arundel County yesterday, after a District Court judge refused to inactivate the case without a finding of guilt or innocence.The request will give Larnzell Martin Jr., 47, of the Prince George's County Circuit Court, a chance to find a judge who might accept the agreement worked out between his lawyer and the prosecutor. Other options are trial by jury or by only a judge, or entering a different plea.