Carroll County State's Attorney 2026 | Independent Voter Guide

The Candidates

Challenger

George Psoras

Republican Challenger · Carroll County State's Attorney

"Making Crime Illegal Again in Carroll County — justice for victims, accountability for all."

George Psoras is a 38-year Carroll County trial attorney (Hampstead, MD) challenging the incumbent. Magna Cum Laude graduate of University of Baltimore School of Law. 2026 Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Award. Has tried cases in virtually every Maryland court. His platform centers on prosecutorial integrity, community safety, and full Brady Rule compliance. Running with Chief Deputy candidate Joe Murtha — AV Preeminent rated, Super Lawyer, John Adams Award recipient, Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, who won acquittals in the Linda Tripp case and Freddie Gray Officer Porter case.

Incumbent

Allan Culver Jr.

Incumbent · Carroll County State's Attorney

"Career prosecutor with 23 years of experience."

Allan Culver Jr. is the sitting State's Attorney seeking re-election. During his time as Acting SA in 2021–2022, all four Carroll County Circuit Court judges banned him from their courtrooms after he failed to disclose credibility concerns about a sheriff's deputy to defense attorneys — a Brady Rule violation. One defendant's conviction was overturned. He opposed two Maryland transparency reform bills. He was declared "cleared" by his own boss — the man he personally endorsed — not by an independent investigation.

Issue by Issue Breakdown

Issue

George Psoras

Allan Culver Jr.

Brady Rule & Evidence Disclosure

Committed to full Brady compliance. Pledges mandatory evidence-sharing and an open, transparent prosecutorial office.
Full Compliance Pledged

As Acting SA, failed to disclose credibility concerns about a sheriff's deputy to defense attorneys — a documented Brady violation. All four circuit court judges banned him from their courtrooms. One conviction overturned.
Documented Violation

Accountability & Independent Oversight

Supports independent oversight mechanisms, transparency reforms, and public accountability for prosecutorial decisions.
Pro-Accountability

Personally opposed Senate Bill 896 (independent oversight of police-involved incidents) calling it "irrelevant," and Senate Bill 763 (public data collection on prosecutorial decisions). Both on the public legislative record.
Opposed Both Bills

Prosecutorial Conduct

Has pledged to charge cases only where evidence is sufficient and to pursue justice over conviction statistics.
Integrity Platform

Carroll County small business owners and community members have documented experiences of prosecutorial overreach. A PAC was formed specifically in response. In 2022, a legal opponent publicly called for his resignation over disclosure failures.
Documented Concerns

Community Safety & Opioid Crisis

Made the opioid epidemic a cornerstone platform issue. Commits to tackling addiction with both enforcement and compassion.
Specific Platform

Record on drug addiction cases has been criticized by community advocates. The "Anthony's Way" organization — founded after a community member's death — has documented concerns about how addiction-related cases were handled.
Record Questioned

Victim Support

Explicitly commits to treating victims and witnesses with compassion and empowering Carroll County communities in public safety efforts.
Explicit Commitment

No comparable public commitment to victim advocacy or community safety empowerment as a platform priority.
No Public Commitment

Self-Defense & Property Rights

Defended a Carroll County store owner who was charged with assault after defending himself during a break-in. The case went to trial and the store owner was found NOT GUILTY by Judge Stansfield in Carroll County Circuit Court.
Defended the Victim — Won

The Carroll County State's Attorney's office charged the store owner with assault after two individuals broke into his business. The community objected to the prosecution. The case resulted in a NOT GUILTY verdict — the court did not agree with the State's Attorney's office.
Prosecuted the Victim — Lost

Property Rights / MPRP

Has publicly opposed the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP), which would allow a New Jersey corporation (PSEG) to use eminent domain to cut a 150-foot-wide path through Carroll County properties. Opposes forced surveyor access.
Opposes MPRP

Has not taken a public position on MPRP or the eminent domain concerns facing Carroll County property owners. Carroll County Commissioners have officially opposed the project.
No Stated Position

Documented Incident — Sourced from Court Records and News Reporting

The Buenger Scandal: What Carroll County Voters Should Know

In 2022, Carroll County's own circuit court judges took the extraordinary step of banning the sitting Acting State's Attorney from their courtrooms. Here are the documented facts.

Circuit Court Judges

All four sitting Carroll County Circuit Court judges unanimously announced they would refuse to hear cases involving Culver — an action described as extraordinary and nearly unprecedented.

Conviction Overturned

A man who had pleaded guilty to drug charges was cleared and had his case thrown out after the non-disclosure came to light.

People Held Without Bond

At least four people were held in jail without bond in cases involving the deputy while Culver sat on credibility information he was required to disclose.

Press Calls Returned

Culver did not return multiple requests for comment from the Baltimore Banner or Baltimore Sun. His office referred questions to a senior staff attorney who also did not respond.

"I was hoping that the information in today's hearing would clear things up so I didn't have concerns. If anything, my concerns are magnified."

— Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Titus, May 27, 2022, after hearing sworn testimony about Culver's conduct

"Prosecutors are required to seek out misconduct and disclose it, which they egregiously failed to do here."

— Natasha Dartigue, Maryland Public Defender Designate, June 2022

Sources: Baltimore Banner (June 6, 2022) · Baltimore Sun (June 15, 2022) · Capital Gazette (October 23, 2023) · Carroll County Board of Elections · Maryland General Assembly testimony archive

Documented Record

Allan Culver Jr. — Documented Concerns

Failed to disclose deputy's credibility issues to defense attorneys as required by the Brady Rule
All four Carroll County Circuit Court judges banned him from their courtrooms (June 2022)
One defendant's conviction overturned; at least four held without bond in affected cases
His own prosecutor Jennifer Brady warned him repeatedly — he called the evidence a "rumor"
Opposed Maryland SB 896 — independent oversight of police-involved incidents
Opposed Maryland SB 763 — public data collection on prosecutorial decisions
Declared "cleared" by his own boss (Haven Shoemaker), not an independent investigation
Chose not to run in 2022 primary — held weeks after the judges banned him
Carroll County NAACP publicly called for investigation of other affected cases

George Psoras — Platform Commitments

Full Brady Rule compliance — mandatory evidence disclosure, no exceptions
Relentless prosecution of violent offenders and organized crime
Specific opioid epidemic action plan for Carroll County
Treating victims and witnesses with compassion — victim support as a priority
Empowering local neighborhoods and community organizations
Supports independent oversight and transparency reforms
Endorsed by Carroll County Small Businesses PAC
Pledges publicly accountable prosecutorial decision-making

Emerging Issue

Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP)

The MPRP is a proposed transmission line project by PSEG, a New Jersey-based utility corporation, that would cut a 150-foot-wide, 70-mile path through Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties. The project has drawn opposition from local officials and property owners.

400+ properties potentially affected — farms, homes, preserved forests, and businesses
PSEG has filed court motions seeking access to private land for surveying
Property owners who refuse access may face eminent domain proceedings
Carroll County Board of Commissioners has officially opposed the project

George Psoras

Has publicly opposed MPRP. States he will fight eminent domain for corporate gain and opposes forced surveyor access to private property without owner consent.

Allan Culver Jr.

Has not taken a public position on MPRP or the eminent domain concerns facing Carroll County property owners as of the date of this publication.

Sources: Carroll County Board of Commissioners Resolution · WMAR2 News (April 2025) · Baltimore Sun

Court Record

The Store Owner Case — Carroll County Circuit Court

Two individuals broke into a Carroll County small business. The store owner confronted them and defended his property. The Carroll County State's Attorney's office subsequently charged the store owner with assault.

Community members objected to the prosecution, calling on the office to drop the charges. The office proceeded to trial.

George Psoras represented the store owner as defense counsel. The case was tried before Judge Stansfield in Carroll County Circuit Court.

Verdict — Carroll County Circuit Court

NOT GUILTY

Judge Stansfield, Carroll County Circuit Court

Voters may consider this case when evaluating each candidate's approach to self-defense, property rights, and prosecutorial discretion.

Source: Carroll County Circuit Court records, Judge Stansfield

How to Vote in Carroll County

Find Your Polling Place

Use the Maryland State Board of Elections lookup tool to find your assigned polling location.

elections.maryland.gov →

Carroll County Board of Elections

For voter registration, absentee ballots, and local election questions.

410-386-2972

Verify Your Registration

Confirm your registration is current before election day.

Verify Registration →

Further Research

For deeper documentation of the concerns raised in this guide.

opposeallanculver.com →

Stay Informed. Make Your Voice Heard.

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The State's Attorney is the most powerful law enforcement officer in Carroll County.

The Buenger Scandal: What Carroll County Voters Should Know

Circuit Court Judges

Conviction Overturned

People Held Without Bond

Press Calls Returned

Allan Culver Jr. — Documented Concerns

George Psoras — Platform Commitments

Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP)

George Psoras

Allan Culver Jr.

The Store Owner Case — Carroll County Circuit Court

Citizens' Report: The Documented Case

Questions about the race?

Sources & Further Reading

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