Nine Questions: Alison Asti

By John Singleton

Circuit Court Judge Alison Asti was elected in November as the 12th judge on the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. Asti, a former president of the Maryland State Bar Association, answered a few questions for us:

Question 1: You’re a hometown product; tell us about your life in Anne Arundel County.

Answer: I’ve lived in Pasadena for 25 years, but I grew up in Severna Park. My family moved to Cape Arthur in 1959 and I attended Folger McKinsey Elementary School. Then, I rode the bus to Fort Meade every day for middle school until Severna Park Middle was completed. In 1972 I graduated from Severna Park High School.

Question 2: Where did you go to college? 

Answer: I double-majored in Economics and Political Science at Duke University; and graduated in three years. In 1976 I returned to Duke for a Master Degree in Public Finance. After that I went to Maryland Law School and graduated in 1979 with honors, and was Editor of the Law Review.

Question 3: Tell us about your career as a lawyer.

Answer: After law school I went to work for Gordon Fineblatt, a full-service law firm in Baltimore. I met my husband, Charles Bienemann, who passed away five years ago, there. We moved to Pasadena in the mid-‘80s. From there I was fortunate to get involved in some interesting projects including negotiating the lease for the Orioles that led to the building of Camden Yards. The Birds were at Memorial Stadium at the time, so the whole deal was contingent on a long-term lease agreement.

Question 4: You’re also a big Ravens fan and you were instrumental in helping the Ravens find a home in Baltimore.

Answer: I negotiated the lease with the Cleveland Browns that facilitated the move to Baltimore. Of course, the Browns became the Baltimore Ravens shortly afterward. Go Ravens!

Question 5: You were elected to the Anne Arundel Circuit Court last November. Why is it important to have elected judges?

Answer: Our constitution promises us three independent, separate but equal branches of government - the executive, legislative and judicial branches. If one branch of government appoints another branch of government it’s not truly independent.

Question 6: How does the process work today?

Answer: For interim appointments between elections, the Governor, by Executive Order, has the ability to establish a nominating commission to assist him in making judicial appointments. Each Governor has adopted different models for judicial nominating commissions with different degrees of control over the process.

Question 7: In 2010 Attorney General Doug Gansler testified in support of eliminating elected judges. Should citizens be concerned?

Answer: Electing judges is extremely important because people want judges to reflect their own views and values. Almost every year a bill has been introduced to the General Assembly to eliminate elected judges, and every time it has failed.

Question 8: In Maryland, there are three levels of courts – District, Circuit and Appellate. Help us understand their roles.

Answer: District Court judges are appointed by the Governor. It’s considered a lower court and primarily deals with misdemeanors, minor crimes, like landlord/tenant disputes. These are non-jury proceedings. Circuit Court judges, like me, are elected. We deal with everything not in District Court. It’s considered a court of general jurisdiction reviewing criminal, domestic and civil matters. Appellate Court judges review state law itself. There are no witnesses and they are elected as well.

Question 9: What are your hobbies outside the courtroom?

Answer: I have two children, a daughter Tracey Bienemann, a senior at Washington College. She’s an environmental and economics major. My son, Daniel Bienemann, is a graduate of Washington College. He majored in history and worked on Capitol Hill for about a year. I also have two dogs, a German Shepherd and a Corgi, and I love living in the Bay region.