HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Washington County voters can decide if Judge Dan Friedman should keep serving on the Appellate Court of Maryland when they vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
Friedman’s election is different from contested judicial races because there is no opposing candidate. Voters will simply decide if he should stay in office through Maryland’s judicial retention process.
Friedman holds an at-large position on the Appellate Court of Maryland, so his responsibilities cover the entire state instead of just one district.
This election lets voters across Maryland, including those in Washington County, decide whether he will continue serving on the state’s intermediate appellate court.
What is a judicial retention election?
Maryland uses retention elections for judges who serve on its appellate courts.
In this system, voters don’t pick between two candidates. Instead, they decide if a current judge should stay in office.
A “Yes” vote means you want Friedman to stay in office. A “No” vote means you do not want him to continue.
This process is different from other judicial elections, like those for Washington County’s Orphans’ Court, where several candidates compete for open seats.
Retention elections let voters help choose judges while keeping the system in which appellate judges are first appointed.
Who is Judge Dan Friedman?
Friedman serves on the Appellate Court of Maryland, formerly called the Court of Special Appeals.
He has experience in legal practice and public service, and he has served as a judge in Maryland’s appellate courts.
As an appellate judge, Friedman reviews cases already decided by lower courts.
His job includes reviewing legal arguments, reviewing what happened in trial courts, and deciding whether legal errors mean a decision should be kept, changed, or overturned.
Being at-large means his position isn’t tied to any specific region in Maryland’s appellate court system.
What does the Appellate Court of Maryland do?
The Appellate Court of Maryland is the state’s middle-level appellate court. It works between Maryland’s circuit courts and the Supreme Court of Maryland.
The court hears appeals in both civil and criminal cases, including disagreements about trial court decisions and how state law is applied.
Appellate judges usually look at records and legal arguments instead of hearing from witnesses or holding new trials.
Their decisions can change how courts across Maryland understand and apply the law.
For people in Washington County, this means appellate court decisions can affect cases from the county’s Circuit Court and legal issues for people throughout Maryland.
What voters should know before Election Day
Friedman’s name will be on the ballot as part of a statewide judicial retention election.
Voters can choose whether he should stay in office.
The result will be based on votes statewide, not just in Washington County.
The judicial retention vote is different from the county’s Orphans’ Court election, where six candidates are running for three seats.
If voters want more information about Friedman’s judicial career, they can check the Maryland State Archives and the Maryland Judiciary.
The general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
