Md AG Impeachment Attempt Defeated

The Maryland House Judiciary Committee struck down an attempt to impeach state attorney general Douglas Gansler (pictured) Wednesday over his legal opinion that recognizes same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions.

According to Southern Maryland Online, "Delegate Don Dwyer, R-Anne Arundel, brought charges against Gansler during the House's morning session, citing 'willful neglect of duty' in Gansler's February opinion recognizing same-sex marriages from out of state.

Dwyer demanded a full vote on the House floor, but members voted against his proposal 101 to 39, upholding House Speaker Michael Busch's move to send the issue to committee."

"At the committee hearing Wednesday afternoon, Dwyer moved to return the charges to the House floor for a full-body vote. The committee rejected the motion, with only six members siding with Dwyer."

Few colleagues offered public support for Dwyer, who said he might try to bring the resolution to the house floor again. The legislator has long sponsored constitutional amendments to ban marriage equality, and this was the second time he had attempted to impeach a public official over same-sex marriage, according to Southern Maryland Online.

"On March 7, 2006, Dwyer moved to impeach Baltimore Circuit Judge M. Brooke Murdoch after she ruled the state's Equal Rights Amendment protected the right of gay couples to marry. Dwyer alleged that Murdoch had neglected her duty as a result of her ruling.

The resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which voted it down 19 to 3."