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would have ample time to do all of that,
and all that Delegate Schneider suggested.
The question is, would he? I do not know.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Taylor, any
further questions?
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: In your
studies of the system in the State of Mary-
land, have you made any type of considera-
tion of the political effect in electing
judges, for instance, in, say, the City of
Baltimore? Do you feel you get real quali-
fied judges in the election of judges in the
City of Baltimore?
DELEGATE JOHNSON: Yes, I think
we have an outstanding bench in Baltimore
City. I can only think of two occasions in
the last thirty-five or forty years, one on
the supreme bench level, one on the mu-
nicipal court level, where a judge was
elected to the bench rather than having
first been appointed.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Taylor,
further questions?
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: If you were
being considered as a candidate for a judge-
ship, would you prefer to run, or would you
like to be put on the list? Would you pre-
fer to run?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Johnson.
DELEGATE JOHNSON: If I were a
judge or if I were a candidate for judge
there is absolutely no question in my mind
that I would prefer to be appointed from
a nominating commission and I would pre-
fer to run in a non-competitive election.
But that is why I oppose it, because that
is exactly what I would prefer to do.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Taylor, do
you have any further questions?
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: No, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any fur-
ther questions from anyone else?
Delegate Byrnes.
DELEGATE BYRNES: Delegate John-
son, referring to the municipal court elec-
tion you spoke of, what is generally con-
sidered to be reason for the incumbent
judge losing that election?
DELEGATE JOHNSON: I am very
sorry, Delegate Byrnes. Would you repeat
the question?
DELEGATE BYRNES: Referring to
that municipal court election, you com-
mented on, what is the generally considered,
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accepted reason for the loss sustained by
the incumbent judge.
Would I be correct in suggesting because
his name began with a "W"?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Johnson.
DELEGATE JOHNSON: I have heard
that comment. I think that it is support-
able. I might also add in that particular
election there were something like five or
six or perhaps more incumbents running,
a very unusual municipal court election. It
was thought that the judg^e who lost, who
of course was subsequently reappointed to
the bench, did lose because there were so
many candidates, which is very unlikely to
occur again, and his name was so far down
the ballot.
I might also add that the same candidate,
after he was appointed the second time,
did not change his name, ran and led the
ticket.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Byrnes.
DELEGATE BYRNES: May I ask this
final question? If you did not suggest to
the Committee of the Whole that we retain
either the nominating commission system
for the trial court level or the lawyer poll,
would you suggest to us how the people
can make the judgments we think are
necessary for selecting judges?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Johnson.
DELEGATE JOHNSON: I think the
people will make the judgment with re-
spect to their judges the exact same way
they do when they elect their legislature,
their congressmen, their senators, their
governors, and the President of the United
States. Those who want to take the time to
study the qualifications and study the en-
dorsements of the various candidates, want
to find out which one is the better man,
will make an intelligent decision. Those who
choose not to look into the matter will make
a less intelligent decision; but I maintain
that that is their right, to make either an
intelligent decision or a non-intelligent de-
cision.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any fur-
ther questions?
Delegate Bradshaw has a question.
DELEGATE BRADSHAW: Mr. Chair-
man, I would like to ask Delegate Johnson
a question.
So that I may have a clear understand-
ing of what you are proposing, may I ask
you this question?
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