Md. Senate approves son of its president for judgeship

The Maryland Senate on Friday voted 42 to 0 to confirm Thomas V. Miller III, the son of the chamber's president, to a judgeship on the Anne Arundel County District Court.

Two of the 44 members present at the time did not cast votes, and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) left the chamber before the issue was considered.

The younger Miller, who was a member of the Maryland Parole Commission for 13 years, was praised by several senators, including some Republicans, during his recent confirmation hearing.

Controversy erupted in 2008, however, when Miller was nominated for another trial bench vacancy. Miller was initially passed over by the county's judicial commission, but he was later nominated after Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) asked for more candidates. That prompted three commission members to resign in protest.

O'Malley nominated Miller for the current post in late January.

On Friday, Sen. Andrew P. Harris (R-Baltimore County) asked that Miller's nomination be voted upon separately. Generally, the Senate votes to confirm group of the governor's appointees at the same time.

"I think he probably will be a good judge, but the appearances just don't look right," Harris, who is running for Congress, said in an interview. Harris was one of the two senators who did not vote.

Sen. Nathaniel Exum (D-Prince George's) was the other.

There was no floor debate before the Senate approved the nomination.