Stephanie Wilkinson told Maryland lawmakers in Annapolis Wednesday that personal protection for judges would prevent families from enduring future heartache.
As she dabbed a tissue underneath her nose, Wilkinson said a man began to search online for her family’s address in July. Three months later in October after a divorce proceeding, the man shot and killed her husband , Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson, in front of their home.
“My family is the victim of an attack on a cornerstone of our country, our judicial process,” Wilkinson said Wednesday before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. “If we do not step in and offer our judiciary the protection and the privacy they should have, we will surely water down the strength of the judicial system by getting less qualified candidates to fill those positions.”
Wilkinson testified in support of Senate Bill 575 that’s sponsored by Sen. Paul D. Corderman (R-Washington and Frederick).
Both then walked across the street to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in support House Bill 664 , sponsored by Del. Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore), chair of the committee.