On Saturday, December 14, 2024, Maryland Matters reported that an Orphans Court Judge in Anne Arundel County is facing criminal charges after allegedly recording his fellow judges without their consent. The indictment against Judge Marc Knapp was issued by a grand jury, citing unlawful interception and misconduct in office.
The charges were announced by the Office of the State Prosecutor, detailing that Knapp is accused of illegally recording his colleagues during a private deliberation session on June 4, 2024. Maryland law stipulates that all parties involved must provide consent to be recorded, a requirement that was evidently not met in this instance, as neither of the other judges was aware they were being recorded.
In addition to the unlawful interception charge, Judge Knapp is also facing a count of misconduct in office related to the same recording incident. As an associate judge, he is one of three judges serving on the Orphans Court in Anne Arundel County, a court responsible for adjudicating estate disputes and, in certain cases, appointing guardians for minors and their properties.
Knapp’s legal troubles are compounded by a history of issues within his court. He has been embroiled in various controversies, including previous criminal charges and allegations of harassment against his colleagues, alongside claims of evidence tampering and threats. These ongoing legal challenges have raised concerns about his conduct and the integrity of the judicial process in which he is involved.
At present, Knapp has been placed on paid leave from his judicial duties. Earlier charges against him were dismissed, but he remains under scrutiny from the state’s Commission on Judicial Disabilities. A temporary peace order was issued, prohibiting him from interacting with his fellow judges except in a professional context. However, this peace order was later dismissed by another judge who ruled there was no legal basis for its issuance, according to court records.
The attorney representing Judge Knapp, Peter O’Neill, was not available for immediate comment regarding the recent charges. O’Neill previously represented Erica Griswold, the Anne Arundel County Register of Wills, who was convicted of theft related to an estate tax payment, a case that also falls under the jurisdiction of the Orphans Court.
The situation surrounding Knapp reflects broader concerns about the operational integrity of the Orphans Court, particularly in light of the series of legal predicaments involving its judges. The implications of these charges and the ongoing legal issues they entail could pose significant challenges to the court’s reputation and functionality moving forward.
Source: Maryland Matters
