Meet Rob Daniels
Candidate for Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge.
Rob Daniels’ exposure to excellent judges came early. Based on his law school achievements he was honored to be chosen by Judge John Grason Turnbull, II to serve as his Judicial Law Clerk in the Baltimore County Circuit Court, the very Court on which Rob now wants to serve as Judge.
Following his clerkship, Rob became a civil litigator handling a wide variety of cases with the help of skilled mentors before focusing his practice in family law where he successfully represented clients in complex divorce cases and high-conflict child custody matters. Rob demonstrated that he not only had the mind for domestic law – he also had the heart, empowering his clients to settle their disputes where appropriate. He still maintains regular contact with some of those early clients.
Always eager to challenge himself, Rob then fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming an Assistant State’s Attorney. For more than six years Rob pursued justice for our community while honing his skills to become an effective but fair prosecutor, trying hundreds of cases including a significant amount of jury trials. He was honored to be selected to serve in the prestigious Special Victims Unit of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted perpetrators of sexual offenses against both children and adults.
For the last 6 years, Rob has served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland as a skilled civil litigator assigned to the State Highway Administration. In addition to litigating real estate acquisitions for transportation projects and defending the state in a wide range of tort cases, Rob is the lead legal advisor for the State Highway Administration in matters regarding automated vehicles and drones.
Rob Daniels’ wide range of legal experience is unmatched by any other candidate in this race. While his competitors would be studying unfamiliar law the night before a trial, there are very few subject matter areas that Rob hasn’t encountered during his career as a trial attorney – many of these on both sides of the courtroom. Rob wants to put his vast experience to use to be a firm but compassionate problem solver for the citizens of Baltimore County.
“My commitment to public service has caused me to be a better friend, community member, citizen and really, a better human being. This commitment to service, and the blessings that I receive from it, inspire me on a daily basis – it has become my ‘why,’ my purpose, and it’s the root of my motivation to offer myself to serve as a judge.
I truly believe that the privilege of serving as a judge would be an opportunity to put to the highest use my legal experience, problem-solving ability and hard-earned wisdom to help people on their worst days and to make my beloved Baltimore County community an even better place.”
EXPERIENCE
Maryland Office of the Attorney General
Assistant Attorney General VI
September 2017 – Present
- Civil litigator assigned to Maryland Department of Transportation - State Highway Administration (MDOT-SHA) specializing in eminent domain litigation to acquire interests in real property for Maryland transportation and highway projects
- Designated lead advisory counsel, MDOT-SHA Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Workgroup
Office of the State’s Attorney, Baltimore City, MD
Assistant State’s Attorney
August 2015 – September 2017
- Initially hired as Felony Guns & Drugs prosecutor, promoted to Felony Violence, ultimately promoted to Special Victims Unit representing the State of Maryland in prosecution of sex offenses, including rape and sexual child abuse
Office of the State’s Attorney, Anne Arundel County, MD
Firearms Crimes Grant Prosecutor, Fiscal Year 2015
September 2014 – August 2015
Office of the State’s Attorney, Carroll County, MD
Assistant State’s Attorney II
February 2011 – September 2014
Private Practice
Small Firm/Solo Practitioner
June 2008 – February 2011
- Civil litigator, specializing in family law, in Baltimore Metro Area.
- Negotiated settlements; Interviewed witnesses and prepared them for trial, hearings and depositions.
- Prepared for, attended and litigated all motions hearings and trials.
Circuit Court of Maryland for Baltimore County
Law Clerk to the Honorable John Grason Turnbull, II
April 2006 – August 2007
Rob Daniels has earned his reputation and can be counted on to serve with honesty and integrity and more importantly with impartiality. His years of experience in the justice system have prepared him to serve our Baltimore County community as Judge of the Circuit Court:
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More than six years as a prosecutor serving Carroll and Anne Arundel Counties and Baltimore City
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Successfully handled thousands of cases and over 200 trials including felony jury trials
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Experienced in divorce, child custody, foreclosure, torts, criminal law, contract law and real estate litigation
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Dedicated to applying the law consistently to safeguard our community from repeat offenders while allowing others the opportunity to partake in rehabilitative efforts, such as substance abuse treatment and problem-solving courts
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Committed to working professionally, effectively and respectfully with our Baltimore County and State law enforcement agencies for the effective enforcement of the law
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Respected by the Judicial community and recognized as being a thoroughly prepared litigant in the courtroom by judges across the State.
ROB’S COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE INCLUDES
The Jill Fox Center for Hope, a LifeBridge Affiliate
- Volunteer, 2022 to Present
- Faculty, 2022 to Present
- Member, Advisory Council, 2022 to Present
- Member, Executive Council, 2023 to Present
- Chair, Community Outreach Committee, 2023 to Present
- Gala Committee, 2022 to Present
- Formerly the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, the Jill Fox Center for Hope creates a center of excellence and new response model providing intervention and prevention for: child abuse, domestic violence, community violence, and elder justice for survivors, caregivers and communities.
- In June 2022 Rob joined the faculty of the Forensic Interview Research & Education (FIRE) program where he routinely presents a lecture entitled “Legal Considerations and Tips for Testifying in Court” to current child abuse forensic interviewers from around the US and its territories as part of a 36-hour certification program. The course culminates in a mock trial that he conducts with other instructors wherein each student practices the skills learned during the program.
- In July 2023 he was asked to join the Executive Council of the organization’s advisory board as the Chair of a newly formed Community Outreach Committee tasked with defining the organization’s long and short-term plan for community outreach and engagement.
Baltimore Center Stage Theater
- Board of Trustees, Associate Trustee 2022 – Present
- Gala Committee 2022 & 2023
- Finance Committee 2023 – Present
- Donor Relations Committee 2023 – Present
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake
- Volunteer, 2021 to Present
- Habitat Chesapeake is one of 1,400 Habitat for Humanity affiliates around the world operating and fundraising independently to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve. Since their founding in 1982, Habitat Chesapeake has built/renovated more than 750 homes in 18 communities across Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Howard counties. These homes have offered safety and stability to more than 2,500 children and family members while bringing much-needed investment to underserved communities suffering from vacancy and neglect. In addition to building homes, Habitat Chesapeake operates six “ReStores” which sell new and gently used furniture, building materials, appliances and more at discount prices. ReStores serve as an important resource for low-income families, as well as a critical source of funding to support their work.
- In addition to working as a general laborer on construction projects in the Baltimore area, Rob also volunteered at the Lutherville/Timonium ReStore during the Covid-19 pandemic when all Habitat build sites were shut down.
COVID-19 Access to Justice Task Force – Maryland Attorney General
- Member, Public Awareness Committee & Print Materials Subcommittee
2020- Worked with service providers and community leaders to provide resources to those disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Contributed to the January 2021 Attorney General’s Covid-19 Access to Justice Task Force Final Report.
Maryland State Bar Association, 2006 – Present
Maryland Bar Foundation, 2022 – Present
- Board of Trustees, 2023 – Present
Baltimore County Bar Association, 2006 – 2009, 2013 – Present
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee 2020 – Present
- In the spring of 2023, Rob developed, presented and moderated a three-part webinar and panel discussion entitled “Exploring Implicit Bias without Blame or Shame.”
- Family Law Section, Member 2006 – 2009, 2013
- Lawyer Referral Committee & Panel 2008 – 2009; 2013
- Entertainment Committee 2020
- Real Property/State & Local Laws Committee 2020
- Technology Committee 2020
Women’s Bar Association, 2013, 2020, 2022 – Present
- Member, Board of Trustees 2023 – Present
- In the spring of 2023, Rob developed and moderated an in-person panel discussion entitled “Empowering Yourself to Succeed.” Participants included judges from both federal and state courts as well as other top legal professionals.
- Rob is the current chair of the planning committee for a first-of-its-kind event: ‘Lights on Broadway,’ a Gala to Benefit Samuel Ready Scholarships, an organization that provides scholarships for promising but economically disadvantaged young women to attend four years of private high school in the greater Baltimore area.
Office of the Attorney General – Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, 2021 – Present
- Committee Co-Chair, 2024 – Present
- Education and Training Sub-Committee, 2021 – 2023
RECENT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
In April 2023 Rob received the FIRE Gratitude Award from the LifeBridge Center for Hope – Forensic Interview Research & Education (“FIRE”) division for his “generous commitment to FIRE legal education and ongoing collaboration.”
In June 2022 Rob was invited to become a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation, and he is honored to still serve in this capacity. Membership in the Fellows is a recognition of “outstanding dedication and contribution to maintaining the honor and integrity of the legal profession, the improvement and facilitation of the administration of justice, the work of the organized Bar of Maryland and civic leadership. Membership as a regular Fellow is limited to not more than 2.5% of MSBA membership. Invitations are extended only after a nomination by a current Fellow and endorsement by the Board of Directors and Foundation.”
