On April 26, Baltimore city residents will vote to elect judges to the 8th Circuit Court. Of the eight candidates on the ballot, six are sitting judges -- appointed by a governor -- running in what is known as a retention election. The two remaining candidates, James Kraft and Todd Oppenheimwere not appointed by a judge and are running independently.
Oppenheim has been a public defender in Baltimore for 11 years. Kraft is a sitting city councilman in Baltimore’s 1st district; he’s been on the council since 2004. Both men join Tom in-studio to discuss why they’re running to be judges, despite not receiving a gubernatorial appointment.