Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee: Historic Progress 2020-2022
The work of the Maryland General Assembly’s Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee touches the life of every Maryland resident and I believe has the potential to shape their prospects more intimately than any other element of state government. It is a solemn responsibility, and my commitment as chair has been to prioritize legislation aimed at remedying past injustice and which puts us on a path toward securing a more just and equitable future for every Marylander.
Click HERE to view the 2020-2022 JPR Report
Senate President Bill Ferguson appointed me to become chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee in 2019 – my first session as chair was 2020. Amid new senate leadership and on the brink of the pandemic, I came into the role with a deep sense of urgency as progress in too many areas of our state had been painstakingly slow. That sense of urgency is felt more acutely during our annual 90-legislative session during which there is never enough time to make as much progress as we would like for those Marylanders facing the most urgent and dire challenges.
But with those challenges comes seemingly limitless possibility. A friend of mine once told me the greatest power of an elected official is the power to convene. I would add that in our efforts to convene we also need to be radically inclusive. As elected officials, we have the ability to call upon experts, academics, advocates, and impacted communities to help us solve problems. If we seize upon the opportunity to bring people together and we do so in an inclusive manner, there is no limit to our potential. As chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, and especially as an African American, I have made it a priority to bring more people to the table to change policies and the outlook—the possibilities—for what we can do. And I believe our work in the last three years has been revolutionary and amazing.
Click HERE to view the 2020-2022 JPR Report
The pandemic and ever stark realities of racial injustice have pushed to the surface the inequities deeply embedded in our country’s fabric, and the last few years—2020-2022—have represented both an imperative and an opportunity like never before to make progress for the people of Maryland. I am honored to say that, despite a 2020 session cut short by COVID, our committee has led historic progress in reforming criminal justice and policing in Maryland, in making our state a welcoming and equitable place for all residents and, perhaps most importantly, in holding our state accountable for safeguarding our civil rights. This document is an accounting of that progress.
The work of the Judicial Proceedings Committee 2020-2022—in partnership with our fellow lawmakers and you, our constituents—will shape the future for all Marylanders. I am eager to share this document with you, Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee 2020-2022: A Record of Historic Progress. I believe it reflects what we can make happen when we are radically inclusive in our work together.
Sincerely,
Senator William C. Smith, Jr.
Chairman, Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee