By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Former Delegate Tiffany Alston automatically lost her seat in the Maryland House of Delegates when she was convicted of misconduct in office in October, and a Prince George's County committee can withdraw the name of a former drug dealer it nominated to replace her, a judge ruled Wednesday.

A lawyer urged a Prince George's County judge on Tuesday to order Gov. Martin O'Malley to appoint a businessman to a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, but an attorney for the governor said it was up to Mr. O'Malley to make the final call on the appointment — not the county's Democratic central committee.
A judge says the nomination of a Prince George's County businessman to fill a seat in the House of Delegates once held by Tiffany Alston should be reviewed by the court.
Judge Nichols wrote that her conviction was rendered final after she was convicted and forfeited her appellate rights in an October plea deal.
She also did not file any appeal she may have had within 30 days, Judge Nichols noted.