IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION DIES IN COMMITTEE

(Annapolis, MD) - Delegate Don Dwyer of Anne Arundel County, Maryland has long promised to impeach any judge that would overturn the state's marriage law. Such a ruling, by definition, would be "judicial activism, abuse of power, and a violation of the public trust," according to Dwyer. However, near midnight last night, the Judiciary Committee voted to cease impeachment procedures.

Four delegates, however, have stood with Delegate Dwyer. Delegate Tonya Shewell and Delegate Christopher Shank are members of the Judiciary Committee that voted to continue the process. And Delegate Rick Impallaria

and Delegate Pat McDonough both signed onto the resolution in support.

Yesterday's hearing, which was held near midnight to discourage attendance by the public or the news media, fell short of the impeachment hearing that Delegate Dwyer had hoped for. He took the opportunity, however, to educate his colleagues on the respective roles of the legislature and judiciary.

"I have kept my commitment to the citizens of Maryland that I would hold the court accountable. I have done my duty to protect and defend the laws of Maryland and I have carried the ball to the end. At the end of the day, I am

not responsible for my colleague's inaction but the citizens of Maryland might want to remember this during November's election" Dwyer said.

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DELEGATE DWYER MAKES MOTION TO IMPEACH JUDGE

(Annapolis, MD) - On January 20, 2006, Judge M. Brooke Murdock overturned Maryland's 1973 marriage law, which states "only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid in this state." Delegate Dwyer, who has spearheadedefforts in Maryland to protect marriage through a constitutional amendment, promised to do all he could to impeach Judge Murdock for this act. Today, he kept that promise.

 At ten o'clock this morning, Delegate Dwyer became the first Maryland legislator in more than 150 years to initiate the removal of a judge. His resolution, "An Address For The Removal Of Judge M. Brooke Murdock," charges

the court with violating the public trust, abuse of power, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, and misbehavior in office. The resolution has been referred to judiciary committee and is likely to be voted on soon. If the charges are approved, the judge will be brought before the committee to defend herself.

"It's obvious to the public that whenever a judge legislates from the bench, our trust is violated. We, the people, write the laws not they, the judiciary. If the courts no longer care what the laws mean and they substitute their own judgment for the people's judgment, we have no choice but to remove them. We must use the system of checks and balances that our Founding Fathers gave us."