By Pamela Wood | December 5, 2019
Sen. William C. Smith Jr. of Montgomery County will lead the Maryland Senate’s high-profile judicial committee, the incoming Senate president announced Wednesday.
Speaking at a fundraiser for Smith, Sen. Bill Ferguson — a Baltimore Democrat who has been nominated to become Senate president in January — said Smith was the “presumptive” chairman.
Smith will replace Baltimore County Sen. Bobby Zirkin, a Democrat who has led the Judicial Proceedings Committee for five years and intends to retire from the Senate in January.
Smith, also a Democrat, currently holds the position of vice-chairman of Judicial Proceedings. The committee reviews legislation related to criminal and civil law, police reform, gun control and other issues.