October 16th, 2015 by WCBC Radio
As reported earlier this week, Allegany County Circuit Court Judge Gary Leasure has submitted paperwork to retire from the position concurrent with the end of his second term on November 7th. The replacement process won’t begin until after his retirement is official, but names of candidates are already circulating in the community. The Local Judicial Nominating Commission, which includes members of the bar from Allegany and Garrett Counties, is in charge of the process. The Commission will accept applications from those interested in the position, and those names will be posted once the application period closes. Three names will be submitted to Governor Larry Hogan for review and one of the names will be selected as the new judge. A well placed, legal system source tells WCBC News that the names heard most often as serious candidates are: Jeffrey Getty, nephew of retired Judge James Getty; Allegany County State’s Attorney Michael Twigg; George “Mac” McKinley and Jamie Walsh. The source said that Getty is viewed as the frontrunner going so far as to say that the “position is his if he wants it”. Once appointed, the new judge will sit for a minimum of one year before the position is subject to election. Because of the proximity to the Presidential election in 2016, the appointed judge will almost certainly not face election until the 2018 election…
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