Judge Mulford

Janet Holbrook has overreached with her assertion that “it was a mistake for Circuit Court Judge Mulford to hear” the challenge made by several Anne Arundel County restaurants to County Executive Pittman’s Executive Order directing the closure or restriction of all food service establishments beginning Dec. 16 (The Capital, Jan. 2).

It has long been a tenet of American government that there are three branches of power: executive, legislative, and judicial. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Marbury vs. Madison in 1803, if the executive branch oversteps its power established within the Constitution, it is appropriate for the Courts to intercede.

Holebrook didn’t stop with stating that it was a mistake for Mulford and the Circuit Court to hear the restaurant owners’ case, but she went further to suggest that Mulford was not qualified to hear the case. Mulford has been a Circuit Court Judge for almost 15 years. Prior to his appointment, he served in the State’s Attorney’s Office and was in private practice handling numerous complex civil and criminal matters. Mulford is currently the civil coordinating judge for the bench and has served as an adjunct professor at the Anne Arundel Community College since 2007.

Throughout his years of legal experience as an attorney and as a judge, he has handled himself with integrity and never shied away from seeking justice for his clients or for those who appeared in his courtroom.

Judges must make tough calls when matters come before them, which is what Mulford did in this matter. The restaurant owners’ attorney, C. Edward Hartman III, properly advised his clients that their case was now moot and should be dismissed, because the county executive, after hearing two days of expert testimony, agreed that reinstating 25 % indoor dining was appropriate. MICHAL MALONE Gambrills

Editor’s note: Michael Malone is a delegate representing District 33 in the General Assembly and a practicing attorney.

Gerald Winegrad

I am writing to express my appreciation of the inclusion of Gerald Winegrads’s column “Let’s make ’21 a green new year” (The Capital, Jan. 3). I have known Gerald for over 35 years and I admire his dedication in efforts to preserve and conserve our natural environment.

I am very familiar with Gerald’s work over the years from his reputation in the Maryland state Senate in the ’80s where he was instrumental in passing legislation related to the rockfish moratorium and the phosphate ban in laundry detergents.

Both measures were not popular with everyone at the time, but in hindsight, they are recognized as successful measures.

He has continued his advocacy efforts through his public presentations and his articles that are published in the capital. Gerald is relentless in his work to benefit the welfare of all Maryland citizens. He is a dedicated researcher who goes to a great extent to present scientifically factual information.

Each of his articles represents hours of background work to get to the truth.

As the former coordinator of environmental education for the Anne Arundel County Public Schools and a founder of the Anne Arundel County Watershed Academy, I recognize the value of sharing Gerald’s work with the citizens of our county.

STEPHEN BARRY Davidsonville

Just the facts

This is in response to the letters about President Donald Trump from Thomas Donnelly and Robert J. Nichols (The Capital, Dec. 21).

The letters expressed opposing viewpoints regarding our current president. The difference, as usual, was that the first stated specific, verifiable facts, while the other simply expressed his opinion — no facts. This is so typical of the letters that you publish on a regular basis.

As the famous TV detective used to say: “Just the Facts.”

JAMES PARKER Edgewater