Nalley tires of supervisory role, resigns it

Is suspended from crime cases in wake of deflation

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Nalley will remain a circuit court judge, but is suspended from hearing criminal cases while police decide whether to charge him.

"I am at a stage of my career where I feel that I can be of more use to the judiciary as a judge in the trenches than as someone with budget, planning, personnel and other management responsibilities," Nalley wrote in a letter to Robert M. Bell, chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals.

On Monday, Bell announced his decision to fill the vacated post with Bragunier, who rose to the bench in 2002 as Charles County's first female circuit court judge.

"It is an honor to be considered and appointed as the Charles County Administrative Judge," Bragunier said in a statement. "I accept the challenge and look forward to serving the citizens of Charles County."

Nalley didn't mention the tire incident in his letter, which was submitted Thursday. However, Prince George's County Judge William D. Missouri, the administrative judge for the circuit that includes Charles County, said he suspects the issue factored heavily in the resignation.

"You can't maintain a supervisory role when you yourself are under a cloud," Missouri said.

Nalley has admitted to deflating the tire of a car parked in a restricted area by the courthouse Aug. 10. He said the vehicle kept showing up in the reserved space even though he left notes for the driver.

The car's owner, Jean Washington, a cleaning worker at the courthouse, has said she never received any notes.

The La Plata Police Department is investigating the tire deflation, and Chief Cassin B. Gittings said Tuesday that he isn't sure whether charges will be filed in connection with the incident.

On Friday, Missouri asked Nalley not to preside over criminal or delinquency cases. The suspension is standard procedure when a judge is under police investigation in connection with a criminal matter or has been charged with a crime, Missouri said.

Nalley and Missouri first discussed the tire deflation Aug. 12 after the Prince George's County judge read about it in the newspaper. Nalley told his supervisor he flattened the tire, but didn't immediately see the weightiness of the incident, Missouri said.

"I told him this was a story with legs and it would keep walking," said Missouri, adding that as a judge "you have to be more circumspect in all of your actions."

Missouri said Nalley is now aware of the seriousness of the situation and is apologetic to Washington and for putting the Maryland judiciary in a bad light.

Only the Maryland Court of Appeals has the power to impeach a judge, but Missouri said it is unlikely that Nalley will be removed from the bench.

"Chances are, he's going to continue being a judge until he retires," Missouri said.

For now, Missouri will have to find other judges, possibly one from Prince George's County, to help handle Nalley's caseload.

Nalley has served as the county administrative judge since 1995. He declined to speak about his resignation from the position.

brodgers@somdnews.com