Parole Commission

Del. Carmen Amedori, a Republican who represents northeast Carroll County, has been tapped to fill a vacancy on the Maryland Parole Commission, according to the county's Republican Central Committee. Michelle Jefferson, chairwoman of Carroll's central committee, said yesterday that "we are hearing that it is supposed to be official as of July 1. Until it comes from the governor's office, it's not 100 percent." Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s office declined to comment on personnel issues.

Longtime Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee is retiring from the position he's held for 25 years to become a member of the state's Parole Commission. His appointment was announced Wednesday by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Weathersbee, 69, a prosecutor for four decades, said he will “retire” June 11, and start on the commission the next day amid “mixed emotions.” “I've got an opportunity to do something else and stay kind of in the field, so I am going to take it,” said Weathersbee, a Democrat.

Del. Carmen Amedori, a Republican who represents northeast Carroll County, has been tapped to fill a vacancy on the Maryland Parole Commission, according to the county's Republican Central Committee. Michelle Jefferson, chairwoman of Carroll's central committee, said yesterday that "we are hearing that it is supposed to be official as of July 1. Until it comes from the governor's office, it's not 100 percent." Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s office declined to comment on personnel issues.

In the article, "Baltimore Country woman murdered despite police safety" (Feb. 8), Marylanders are again reminded of the efficiency of our justice system. The article's title should have been "Awarding good behavior results in another death," since, not implied by the title, the victim did not follow police recommendations for her safety. The alleged murderer was released from prison, despite County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger's office advocating against his parole. But, as the article notes, our state's parole commission let him go because the convicted prisoner had "earned prison credit for good behavior.

Gov. Parris N. Glendening won't be sending any state prisoners home early for the holidays this year -- breaking a tradition that dates at least to the 1970s.Gubernatorial spokesman Ray Feldmann said Mr. Glendening received no recommendations for the annual Christmas commutations from the Maryland Parole Commission -- and therefore, couldn't send anybody home early."He asked the question, were there any to come before him, and [the commission] said no," Mr. Feldmann said. "I know it's unusual."

Gov.Martin O'Malleyis taking steps to grant clemency to two Maryland inmates serving life sentences, including a Baltimore man convicted of murder at age 14 - the first time he has proceeded that far on such an action. Aides said public notices will be posted Wednesday that the two cases are under consideration. Officials say the notices are intended to solicit public feedback, and decisions could be made by the end of the month. During his tenure as governor, O'Malley has denied early release for 57 inmates recommended for release by the state's parole commission.

Davey shifted Cal to third and the Dow sank 161.05 points.The gubner's men goofed in appointing Thomas V. Miller III to the Parole Commission. Should have been the Ethics Commission.N If Susan Molinari can't save the Dole campaign, nobody can.Bertha missed the Olympics. Better luck next time.Pub Date: 7/17/96

An article in yesterday's editions described Gov. Parris N. Glendening's directive to the Parole Commission not to release murderers or rapists as an executive order. No such formal order was issued, although a judge overturning the governor's new policy described it as having the same effect as an executive order.Pub Date: 9/18/97

Gov. Parris N. Glendening replaced the longtime head of the (( Maryland Parole Commission yesterday with Patricia K. Cushwa, advocate for victims' rights and a member of the parole panel since 1992.Cushwa, 58, will succeed Paul J. Davis, who has been chairman of the eight-member commission since 1988 but was not reappointed by Glendening at the expiration of his term in December.Cushwa, who helped start a victims' advocacy group in her Washington County home 20 years ago, said her appointment is a "strong signal that victims matter."

In the article, "Baltimore Country woman murdered despite police safety" (Feb. 8), Marylanders are again reminded of the efficiency of our justice system. The article's title should have been "Awarding good behavior results in another death," since, not implied by the title, the victim did not follow police recommendations for her safety. The alleged murderer was released from prison, despite County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger's office advocating against his parole. But, as the article notes, our state's parole commission let him go because the convicted prisoner had "earned prison credit for good behavior.

The governor of Maryland, a Democrat who fostered a reputation for being tough on crime to neutralize claims that he's some sort of liberal, says it's full speed ahead for a new juvenile jail in Baltimore — most recent price tag, $70 million. This is the sort of predictable, inside-the-box thinking we get from Martin O'Malley and from politicians of both major parties. If O'Malley had a truly progressive thought — such as proposing a complete change in how the state handles kids who commit serious crimes — that would be news.

Gov.Martin O'Malleyis taking steps to grant clemency to two Maryland inmates serving life sentences, including a Baltimore man convicted of murder at age 14 - the first time he has proceeded that far on such an action. Aides said public notices will be posted Wednesday that the two cases are under consideration. Officials say the notices are intended to solicit public feedback, and decisions could be made by the end of the month. During his tenure as governor, O'Malley has denied early release for 57 inmates recommended for release by the state's parole commission.

Nancy Lee Murphy, a veteran Baltimore County Democratic legislator who served in Maryland's House of Delegates and Senate, died Dec. 30 of a heart attack at St. Agnes Hospital the day before her 82nd birthday. "It was certainly sad news to end the year with for the friends who knew Nancy. She was such a great family person," said former Harford County Executive Eileen Rehrmann, who had served with Ms. Murphy in the House of Delegates during the 1980s and remained a close friend. "During all her years in public life, she served her constituents well.

The House of Delegates has joined the Senate in demanding that the governor act on recommendations by the state parole commission to free inmates serving life sentences. The House voted Friday to give the governor six months to deny a parole recommendation by the commission. Under the legislation, if the governor does not file an objection before the deadline, the inmate would be freed automatically. Lawmakers took up the measure earlier this year in frustration that Gov. Martin O'Malley had not acted on any of the 50 parole or commutation recommendations pending during his four-plus years in office.

While Gov. Martin O'Malley has the authority to release a convict serving a life sentence, he has never used it. Now, lawmakers are considering whether to take it away from him. The House of Delegates has approved legislation that would free a lifer on the recommendation of the state parole commission if the governor does not file an objection. A Senate committee is expected to vote this week on legislation that would remove him from the process altogether. The efforts are being led by O'Malley's fellow Democrats, some of whom are exasperated by his inaction on the 50 cases now sitting on his desk.

Peter Hermann's story "Child sex suspect a repeat offender" (May 14) reminds us of several aspects of chronic dysfunction in criminal justice in our state, and especially in our city. Let's start with this suspect's parole. We are told that "he was paroled in March after having served 19 months in prison." Although parole assessment guidelines classify drug-selling as "nonviolent," this man had a 2007 manslaughter conviction. There has to be something wrong with paroling him so soon, or at all, with this kind of prior record.

A court hearing this summer could determine whether Terrence G. Johnson, 31, is being held illegally for the killing of a Prince George's County police officer -- a crime he was convicted of 15 years ago.Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Warren B. Duckett Jr. agreed yesterday to hold the hearing Aug. 2 to consider Johnson's petition for release.Yesterday, Johnson's lawyers said the state parole commission violated his constitutional rights to due process by denying his parole request in 1991. They also said Johnson is being cheated out of "good time" credits that would speed his release, that his exemplary prison record is being ignored and that the parole commission's denials are "vindictive and in retaliation" for his acquittal on first-degree murder charges.

Former First Maryland S&L president Julian S. Seidel, serving a 12-year federal prison term for his convictions on charges tied to the thrift's 1985 collapse, has lost another attempt to have his sentence reduced.Judge Joseph C. Howard denied Seidel's request for a sentence reduction without a court hearing, in a two-page order filed this month in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.Seidel, who was convicted and sentenced here in 1989, already had lost bids for early parole before the federal Parole Commission and the commission's National Appeal Board.

The nomination of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.'s son for a District Court judgeship is prompting a vow of resignation from at least one member of the Anne Arundel County Judicial Nominating Commission and raising old questions of nepotism and political interference. Thomas V. Miller III, a 12-year veteran of the Maryland Parole Commission, was passed over by the 13-member nominating commission in February when he applied for one of three vacant positions. But after Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, issued an executive order in April requiring all such panels to produce at least three nominations per vacancy, the commission voted Wednesday night to recommend Miller and four other previously rejected candidates for a spot on the bench.

The chairman of the Maryland Parole Commission told lawmakers yesterday that counties across the state have failed to hold parole hearings for eligible inmates and that better communication is necessary among local officials, the parole commission and the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation. During a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, commission Chairman David R. Blumberg also said counties need to standardize the parole process for inmates of local detention centers. "If we use the same procedure in every jurisdiction, then we won't have people falling through the cracks," he said.