Name: Joe Cassilly

Age:  55

Marriage status:  Married

Education:   

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Juris Doctor, Several hundred hours of specialized in education in various criminal law and management topics

Work Experience:

Ranger U. S. Army 1968-1971

Law Professor 1977-1982

Prosecutor 1977 to present

Previous Political Offices Held:

I have held this office since 1983. 

Brief Biography:

Joe Cassilly was born in Harford County in 1950, the oldest of Nancy and Bob Cassilly's eleven children. Joe grew up in Bel Air attending Saint Margaret and John Carroll Schools. In his teens he lived in Mexico with a family.

Upon graduation from high school in 1968, he spent another two months in Mexico before enlisting in the United States Army. Eventually, he was assigned to F Company 75th Rangers with the 25th Infantry Division in Cu Chi, Vietnam.  He was injured in Vietnam. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation medal.

His spinal cord injury left him in a wheelchair. After leaving the Veterans Hospital, he attended Harford Community College and the University of Arizona to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School in 1977. Later that year, he became an Assistant State's Attorney for Harford County.

In 1982, he was elected State's Attorney for Harford County and has been re-elected five times. During this time he helped to establish two Narcotics Task Forces, a domestic violence section and the Child Advocacy Center. The State's Attorney's Office has grown to 62 employees in 4 locations.

Joe Cassilly is active with the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association having held several offices including two terms as president of the Association. He is currently the Treasurer of the National District Attorneys Association and co-chair of the Cybercrime Committee.

Joe is married to Diana Susan Cassilly and they share five children, and one grandchild. They live in Benson, Maryland.  Joe is a lector at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church in Hickory.  He has been active in local theater and music productions.  He has been active on issues for the disabled, serving on design teams for both Baltimore sports stadiums and other large products.  In 2002, Joe was named an Outstanding Marylander with a Disability.

1.  Why are you running for this office?

I believe that I am the right person for this job by virtue of training,  experience, philosophy and I like the job. 

2.  What does the States Attorney do?

The States Attorney Office is primarily responsible for the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases at the trial level. In this regard the State’s Attorneys work with the police in the development of cases, presentations to the Grand Jury and trial of cases in the Circuit, District or Juvenile Court. The Harford County State’s Attorney’s Family Support Division works with the Bureau of Support Enforcement to establish paternity, set and collect child support. The State’s Attorney’s Office has specialized units to deal with domestic violence and child abuse and victims-witness concerns.   The State’s Attorney works with Federal, State and county governments to bring to their attention criminal justice issues, craft laws and lobby legislatures.