Our Precious Democratic Experiment

“I made a commitment that I would bring or join only those actions where I believe Marylanders are
harmed or impacted in a way that’s important and meaningful to them…. So, we’re going to protect the
interest the Marylanders talk about every day around their kitchen table.”
–Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown

Dear Friend,

Join us! Attorney General Anthony Brown and former Attorney General Brian Frosh will join us at our next Pints, Policy, Politics on May 20th.  RSVP here for this free event! Bring a friend, buy a pint, and join the discussion about the role of attorneys general in times of uncertainty.

The concept of an attorney general, or as it was originally referenced, the “King’s lawyer,” originated more than 700 years ago in England. Today, attorneys general occupy the role of chief legal officer for the state and are responsible for protecting the rights of those who reside in their respective jurisdiction(s). Attorneys general protect us from unfair trade practices and consumer threats, keep our markets competitive, guard against waste fraud and abuse, fight crime, and protect our environment. In recent times, attorneys general have increasingly been called upon to protect the values and the rights of those whom they represent from federal incursion. This is particularly true of the past two attorneys general in Maryland.

Both Attorney General Brown and former Attorney General Frosh have played an instrumental role in protecting Marylanders from a White House with a policy agenda in stark contravention of the values so many of us hold dear. As noted in recent Maryland Matters article, Former General Frosh led or joined about 95 suits against the Trump administration including “defending the Affordable Care Act, challenging the delay to an Obama-era rule that let student borrowers get loan forgiveness if a predatory school engaged in deceptive conduct, and blocking the separation of immigrant families at the southern border.” To date, Attorney General Brown has led or joined more than two dozen lawsuits filed by attorneys general across the country challenging this administration’s rapid-fire policy pronouncements.

Join us for a candid discussion about the lessons learned and the path forward as attorneys general across the nation fight to protect our precious democratic experiment.

• What: Pints, Policy, and Politics
• When: Tuesday, May 20th at 5:00pm
• Where: Silver Branch Brewing Company: 8401 Colesville Rd #150, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Don’t forget to RSVP for this exciting free event!

Join the District 20 members at the Shiela E. Hixson Breakfast Club.  Your District 20 members will be sharing highlights from the 2025 Maryland Legislative Session.  Please note: May 18th has been cancelled and rescheduled to June 29th at 11am.  The location will be announced as soon as possible. 

• What: Shiela E. Hixson Breakfast Club
• When: Sunday, June 29th at 11:00am
• Where: TBD

I hope to see you soon! Please stay in touch with me via email at Will@WillSmithForMaryland.com or social media (@Willcsmithjr)!

All the best,

Senator William C. Smith, Jr.
Chairman, Judicial Proceedings Committee
Maryland State Senate