“Baltimore sheriff raises alarm on court security underfunding”

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Published by Michael Berman at August 2, 2025

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Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogan wrote a commentary in the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore sheriff raises alarm on court security underfunding (Aug. 1, 2025).

In Baltimore, courthouse security is provided by the sheriff’s office. It is worth listening to the voice of the person charged with protecting the courthouse. The commentary begins:

Last week, in front of a judge and jury during a murder trial in the Baltimore City Circuit Court, three individuals attempted to attack the defendant. While they were quickly subdued and arrested, this is not the only such incident of courthouse violence we have experienced recently in Maryland. Just this past May, the defendant in a murder case in Howard County was similarly attacked in one of their Circuit courtrooms.

The Sheriff wrote:

As sheriff of Baltimore City, I am compelled to raise the alarm on court security funding inadequacies. Following the murder of Judge Andrew Wilkinson in Washington County, a task force was legislatively created to study the issue of the safety of judicial facilities throughout Maryland. As a member of that task force, I learned that staffing for court security officers is significantly underfunded by local governments, not only in Baltimore but all around the state.

He states that 49 years ago, there were three court security personnel for each Judge. Today, he wrote, the ratio has fallen to 0.8.

The Sheriff also wrote:

Fortunately, we have another opportunity to focus on this issue in the coming weeks. When Governor Moore signed Senate Bill 621 this past April, it mandated that sheriffs around the state identify the safety and staffing needs of the various courthouse buildings, as well as any impediments to our ability to achieve adequate security standards. We will submit our findings to the Chief Judge of the Maryland Supreme Court by Sept. 30. It should come as no surprise to anyone if the data identifies underfunding from local governments as the prevailing impediment to courthouse security.

Sheriff Cogan suggests that a state-wide solution will avoid a “battle for resources in an adversarial budget process with their local governments.“

Will Rogers wrote Respect umpires — on the field and in the courtroom (Aug. 2, 2025). He had been an umpire in youth baseball and called balls and strikes. “Were they always right? No. I bungled my share…. No one likes it, but that’s the sport.” He then asked what people like even less than bungled calls and he answered: “When parents or coaches scream at the umpire to overturn a call.” He asks the reader to imagine what would happen if a coach who did not like a call told the batter to ignore the umpire and walk to first base. He answers: “[T]he game would fall apart.” He adds: “Respecting the umpire even when you think they’re wrong is a better choice and offers a lesson that could help our politics today.” Mr. Rogers concludes:

Let’s treat the judiciary with the same respect owed to youth baseball umpires. It’s okay to disagree with a court’s ruling. But if we want the system to work — the whole system — keep it civil. Follow the ruling, file an appeal and let the judicial process play out. Because whether on the diamond or in the nation’s courtrooms, when everyone plays by the rules, the game remains fair for all. That’s the only way to ensure that we can protect the game — and our constitutional democracy.

For a few examples of recent Maryland actions, see:

For additional context, please see: