Judge Christine Celeste & Judge Ginina Jackson-Stevenson: We are the right choice for Anne Arundel County voters.

Keep The Most Qualified on the Bench

Ever had jury duty?  If not, you may have never interacted with the circuit court.  While most voters may never have a case in the circuit court, the court is busy everyday handling dozens of the most serious criminal cases, family cases, including divorce, custody, and child support matters and complex civil matters.  In every case before the court, whether a judge trial or jury trial, judges make life impacting decisions—should a person be held or released pending trial, is dismissal of a case appropriate, who should have custody of a child or just visitation?  

The voters should choose Judge Christine Celeste and Judge Ginina Jackson-Stevenson.  If you were an employer making a hiring decision, you would want the best candidate for the job.  Voters should select the best candidates, too! Judge Christine Celeste and Judge Ginina Jackson-Stevenson are the best candidates for circuit court judge.  They were thoroughly vetted, found to be most qualified, and were appointed by the Governor. 

Prior to their appointment as judges, Judge Celeste and Judge Jackson-Stevenson were interviewed by eleven bar associations representing various segments of the bar, such as Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association, Monumental City Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association and other associations representing various practice areas, such as the Maryland Association for Justice and the Maryland Defense Counsel.  Those associations made recommendations to a judicial nominating commission, who conducted a panel interview with every circuit court applicant and sent the most qualified candidates names to the Governor. The Governor interviewed the nominees and appointed the most qualified people, Judge Celeste and Judge Jackson-Stevenson.  With challengers who either did not apply or were never nominated, voters cannot be confident they are selecting candidates with the necessary experience.

Judge Celeste tried cases in the circuit court and federal courts and tribunals for 20 years before her appointment.  She was a prosecutor, tried ethics cases, and acted as an employment attorney for the federal government.  She spent her entire career in the courtroom mastering the laws of evidence and of criminal and civil procedure.  Judge Celeste is also deeply involved in the legal community and holds memberships in various bar associations through which she provides training to attorneys.  Judge Celeste is a native of Anne Arundel County and is proud to serve her community as a circuit court judge.  

Prior to her appointment, Judge Ginina Jackson-Stevenson was the first African American woman appointed as a Magistrate on the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, where she served for over three years.  Before becoming a Magistrate, Judge Jackson-Stevenson operated her own law firm and handled all types of criminal cases, juvenile matters, divorces, child custody cases, administrative hearings, tax matters, personal injury cases, and expungements.  She also worked as an assistant public defender for 7 years before opening her own practice handling cases in state and federal court.  Judge Jackson-Stevenson has extensive trial experience as a practitioner in the circuit court.  She was an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and is deeply involved in her community.

Judge Celeste and Judge Jackson-Stevenson have been working hard for the citizens of Anne Arundel County.  They believe that all litigants that come before the court deserve judges who know the law and apply it fairly, allow the parties a full opportunity to be heard, and treat every person in front of them with respect.  Both have excellent reputations with the bar.  Their skills as judges are evidenced by the fact that one of their primary challengers endorsed Judges Celeste and Jackson-Stevenson. 

If you or a family member found yourself appearing before a judge of the circuit court, wouldn't you want to have an experienced judge with knowledge of diverse practice areas who will decide the case fairly and impartially?  By voting for Judge Christine Celeste and Judge Ginina Jackson-Stevenson, voters will ensure that parties before the circuit court have their cases heard by experienced judges.  It is so important to keep our most quailified judges on the bench.  Judge Christine Celeste and Judge Ginina Jackson-Stevenson are the right choice for Anne Arundel County voters.   

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Keep Our Judges 2024