The Women's Bar Association of Maryland has appointed an Annapolis lawyer to handle complaints about Baltimore County Circuit Judge Robert E. Cahill Sr. or other judges on the county bench.
The action resulted from some 40 complaints, said Tricia D. O'Neill, vice president of the 1,200-member association.
Members objected to Judge Cahill's sympathetic comments Oct. 17 in sentencing a Parkton trucker, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received 18 months on work release for shooting his wife after he found her in bed with another man.
Ms. O'Neill, a law professor and co-author of the state's 1989 report on gender bias in the courts, said the appointment of Paula J. Peters as special counsel "came about because we got numerous calls, saying 'What can we do?' "
"It was an immediate and visceral reaction that this is wrong," she said.
In a news release announcing the action, Ms. Peters said: "From what I have heard, it is not unheard of for attorneys and litigants to leave Judge Cahill's courtroom in tears based upon his abusive treatment.
"Unfortunately, all of the attorneys are afraid to come forward to describe what has occurred to them and to their clients. These attorneys have expressed fear not only of future abuse by Judge Cahill, but also potential retaliation by the other judges."
"We just don't do anything like that," said Administrative Judge Edward A. DeWaters Jr.
Although there have been complaints about the recent case, he said, "I just don't get these kinds of complaints that are being talked about. I don't get the general complaint about the bench in Baltimore County being difficult.
"As far as anything they want to do, I'll be cooperative with them."
Similarly, District Judge Darryl G. Fletcher, chairman of the county bar association's bench-bar committee, said, "In my three years, I can't recall any complaint about a judge as such."
Judge Cahill declined to comment, as he has since the sentencing provoked a national outcry.
Ms. O'Neill said the members who called also noted "the lack of resolution of the Bollinger matter." In 1993, Circuit Judge Thomas J. Bollinger granted probation before judgment to a man convicted of raping a teen-age employee who had passed out in his bed.
Attorney Susan C. Elgin heads the complaints subcommittee of the Select Committee on Gender Equality, which filed a complaint in July 1993. The complaint still is pending with the Judicial Disabilities Commission, which investigates judges.
Ms. Elgin's subcommittee was established by judges and lawyers after the gender-bias report. Of the women's bar association action, she said, "As far as I know, this is something new: having a region pinpointed."
In the news release, association president Toni Clarke said, "Everyone is concerned that . . . this behavior will continue if there are no consequences to Judge Cahill's behavior as there were no consequences to Judge Bollinger's behavior."
"I don't practice much in Baltimore County," said Ms. Peters, who volunteered for the project and will be assisted by three other Anne Arundel County lawyers. She said yesterday they have complaints about 15 cases involving Judge Cahill, which they will investigate.
Although she didn't know how long it would take, she said, "We don't want it to drag out too long. That's been part of the problem."
Ms. Peters will serve as counsel for members who have had difficulty with judges in the county -- handling the complaints confidentially under the attorney-client privilege. Complaints may be addressed to Women's Bar Association, P.O. Box 1852, Annapolis 21404.
Ms. O'Neill said, "The predominant cause is Cahill and his behavior . . . There are lots of good judges on the Baltimore County bench and we don't mean to single them out because of his bad behavior."