Scott Shellenberger was a young, admittedly brash lawyer when a Baltimore County Circuit Court threatened to find him in contempt and throw him in the slammer.
About two decades later, it was that same judge ? now Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith ? who promoted and funded Shellenberger?s bid for top prosecutor during the campaign season and, at his inaugural ceremony Tuesday afternoon in Towson, heralded him as a compassionate, respectful attorney.
“I saw a lot of attorneys try a lot of cases,” Smith said of his 16-year tenure on the bench. “Scott was at the top of the class. He worked to get the verdict the state deserved.”
Shellenberger is the county?s first Democratic state?s attorney in 32 years, replacing the retiring Sandy O?Connor ? Maryland?s first female state?s attorney, known for her aggressive pursuit of the death penalty. Shellenberger prosecuted one of those cases during an 11-year stint in her office, that of triple murderer Steven Oken, before leaving to work 13 years for Peter Angelos? private personal-injury practice.
Angelos, who attended Tuesday?s ceremony, said Shellenberger will be difficult to replace.
“He?s a very capable lawyer and very committed to the public welfare,” Angelos said. “I am delighted for the citizens of Baltimore County.”
Shellenberger beat Stephen Bailey, the Republican nominee and O?Conner?s deputy state?s attorney, in November?s election ? a victory Bailey supporters credited to Smith funneling $315,000 of his own campaign money to Shellenberger.
Before pledging to “always do what is right for the victims,” Shellenberger thanked Smith and other mutual campaign volunteers Tuesday, along with his family and a laundry list of mentors.
They included O?Connor and Circuit Court Judges John Turnbull and Dana Levitz ? who said Shellenberger?s experience defending criminals provides him a unique perspective.
He recalled a young Shellenberger not defying judges, but mesmerizing juries.
“He was one of the real stars,” Levitz said. “You could clearly tell, ?Here?s a guy who?s got it.? ”
