By Jay Bernstein
The Baltimore Jewish community calls upon Gov. Wes Moore to take appropriate disciplinary action regarding inappropriate and repulsive comments regarding the Jewish community made by former State Sen. Jill P. Carter, who currently serves as a judge on the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals.
The board, which is an independent agency within the executive branch of state government, has the important task of adjudicating bids and contract disputes between state government agencies and contractors and vendors who do business with the State of Maryland.
Judge Carter was appointed to the MSBCA by Gov. Moore in December of 2024.
Earlier this month, Dayvon Love, director of public policy for the local grassroots group Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, posted a video expressing his view that Judge Carter’s successor, Sen. Dalya Attar (D-41st), “represents a Zionist vision of politics that is harmful to Black people.”
Commenting on the video, Judge Carter wrote, “The 41st District is 63% Black. How is it not recognized that the efforts of leaders of the Orthodox Jewish community to control the politics of this majority black district, are hostile to black people? I’m kind of glad this race is bringing out the truth of who people are, and who controls the so-called media.” (emphasis added; www.facebook.com/reel/1655089168873132)
At a minimum, Judge Carter’s comments violate the Standard of Conduct for Executive Branch Employees, which requires employees to “endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance of any impropriety or that violate applicable laws, regulation and ethical standards.” (Md. Code Regs. 01.01.2015.08.L)
The duty of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety is particularly applicable to judges, who are expected to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.
Judge Carter’s use of age-old tropes to besmirch the leaders of the Jewish community raises serious questions regarding her ability to carry out her adjudicatory responsibilities at the MSBCA with integrity, impartiality and fairness to all parties.
Concerned citizens should call upon the governor to publicly denounce the comments of Judge Carter, and to take whatever disciplinary action is necessary to ensure that the high ethical standards demanded of those who serve in adjudicatory roles within the executive branch are maintained and enforced.
Jay Bernstein is an attorney, activist and community organizer based in Northwest Baltimore.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Jmore.
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