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Bobby Zirkin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Zirkin in 2008 | |
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 11th district | |
| In office January 10, 2007 – January 1, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Paula Hollinger |
| Succeeded by | Shelly L. Hettleman |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 11th district | |
| In office January 13, 1999 – January 10, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Robert L. Frank |
| Succeeded by | Dana Stein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Alan Zirkin April 24, 1971 Davis, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Tina |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Johns Hopkins University (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Robert Alan Zirkin[1] (born April 24, 1971) is an American politician who was a member of the Maryland Senate from the 11th district from 2007 to 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1999 to 2007.
Early life and education[edit]
Zirkin was born in Davis, California, on April 24, 1971,[2] to Barry and Barbara Zirkin.[3] After graduating from Pikesville High School, he attended the London School of Economics through American University in 1992 and graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science with honors in 1993, and Georgetown University, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1998. He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2000.[2]
Career[edit]
Zirkin became involved with politics after graduating from Johns Hopkins, serving as the president of Young Democrats of Maryland from 1994 to 1995 and speaking at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.[2]
Zirkin operated his own solo practice from 2008 to 2015, afterwards opening the Zirkin and Schmerling Law firm.[2]
Maryland House of Delegates[edit]
Zirkin was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 13, 1999. He was a member of the Judiciary Committee during his entire tenure, including as the chair of its juvenile law subcommittee from 2003 to 2007, and was a member of the Baltimore County Delegation.[2]
Maryland Senate[edit]
Zirkin was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 10, 2007. He was a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee during his first term from 2007 to 2010, afterwards serving in the Judicial Proceedings Committee for the remainder of his tenure.[2] After state senator Brian Frosh was elected Attorney General of Maryland in November 2014, Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr. appointed Zirkin as the chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.[4]
Zirkin resigned from the Senate effective January 1, 2020, saying that politics had become too divisive and driven by special interests and social media.[5]
Post-legislative career[edit]
After resigning, Zirkin lobbied on behalf of the Catholic Church in opposition to the Maryland Child Victims Act, which would extend the statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases.[6] In 2023, Zirkin was reported to be advertising services to abuse survivors.[7]
In May 2024, former Republican Governor Larry Hogan announced that Zirkin would co-chair the "Democrats for Hogan" organization supporting his 2024 U.S. Senate campaign.[8] In interviews with The Washington Post and Maryland Matters, Zirkin said that he was supporting Hogan in part because of his positions on Israel,[9] noting that Alsobrooks had been endorsed by U.S. senator Chris Van Hollen, who has been critical of U.S. support for Israel's military amid the Israel–Hamas war.[10]
Personal life[edit]
Zirkin is married to his wife Tina. Together, they have two children and live in Pikesville, Maryland.[11]
Political positions[edit]
Electoral history[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Robert Alan Zirkin". lawyers.justia.com. Justia. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Robert A. Zirkin, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Feiler, Alan (June 21, 2019). "Dr. Barbara G. Zirkin, Academic and Mother of State Senator, Dies at 75". JMORE. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Wagner, John (December 3, 2014). "Zirkin named chairman of judicial panel in Md. Senate, among other assignments". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Wood, Pamela (December 3, 2019). "Sen. Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore County member of General Assembly since 1999, says he's resigning next month". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 5, 2021). "Zirkin Returns to Old Committee to Testify Against Wilson's Child Sex Abuse Bill". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ Gaskill, Hannah (June 5, 2023). "Ex-Maryland state Sen. Robert 'Bobby' Zirkin advertises legal assistance under Child Victims Act, which he once testified against". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (May 15, 2024). "Hogan urges Democrats to back him in Maryland Senate race with new video". The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Schwartzman, Paul; Cox, Erin (May 15, 2024). "Larry Hogan has won statewide twice. But now everything is different". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (May 20, 2024). "Get ready for a 'Groundhog Day' Senate election". Maryland Matters. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ Feiler, Alan (December 3, 2019). "Sen. Bobby Zirkin to Resign after Two Decades in the General Assembly". JMORE. Retrieved May 29, 2024.