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CASSILLY SWORN IN FOR SIXTH TERM

State's Attorney Joseph I. Cassilly took the oath of office to begin his sixth term as prosecutor for Harford County. The oath was administered by Clerk of the Court James Rielly in the ceremonial courtroom of the Circuit court on Friday, January 3rd. Cassilly was joined for the ceremony by family, friends, municipal, county and State police officers, judges from the circuit and district court and State and local elected officials.

The opening prayer was delivered by Deacon Victor Petrosino of Saint Margaret Catholic Church. From several scripture readings the deacon explained that public authority is a sacred trust to be used fairly to provide justice for all. President of the Harford County Bar Association, M. Teresa Garland remarked how the county had changed during Cassilly's twenty years as State's Attorney. She commented on Cassilly's role in setting up new initiatives to deal with physical and sexual child abuse, domestic violence, drug investigations and drug courts.

In his remarks Cassilly thanked the employees of the State's Attorney's office for their dedication to and care for the victims and witnesses of crime. Cassilly pointed to a 50% increase in the circuit court caseload over the past five years. "In spite of more cases the citizens must never feel that they were just processed through a system but that they were instrumental in getting justice. It is clear that we need more attorneys to respond to this added caseload." Cassilly stated that his priority over the next four years woul be to continue to meet with residents of communities plagued by crime. "If the police and prosecutors team up with people who have criminals in their neighborhood we can defeat crime."

Cassilly serves as a vice-president for training in the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association and was recently elected treasurer of the National District Attorneys Association.