An Anne Arundel County judge has ruled that Attorney General candidate Douglas Gansler is qualified to continue his run for the state?s top lawyer job, Gansler?s campaign manager said Friday.
Circuit Court Judge Ronald Silkworth shot down a Republican challenge to Gansler?s candidacy and ruled the Democrat is qualified to run for the office, said Vivek Chopra, Gansler?s campaign manager.
The judge?s opinion was not available by press time, and Republican Attorney General candidate Scott Rolle?s campaign manager said he had not been notified of any opinion.
“Doug is staying on the ballot,” Chopra said. “This ruling affirms what we have said from the beginning: That this is a frivolous lawsuit filed by the campaign manager of a candidate with no positive agenda. This suit never had any basis in fact or law.”
Nikos Stanford Liddy, of Bowie, filed a motion last week in an attempt to eliminate Gansler from the Nov. 7 election. Liddy is represented by attorney Jason Shoemaker, the campaign manager for Rolle, the Frederick County State?s Attorney.
At issue was whether Gansler meets Maryland?s constitutional requirement of having practiced law in Maryland for 10 years to be eligible to run for attorney general.
Gansler testified during the trial Wednesday that his 17 years as a Maryland bar member and his work within the state of Maryland as an assistant U.S. attorney qualify him for the job.
Gansler has been a member of the Maryland Bar since 1989, but Libby said Gansler only has practiced law in Maryland for eight years.
Gansler was employed in Washington as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1992 to 1998, the year he was elected to the Montgomery County State?s Attorney?s Office.
