Bobby Zirkin

Former Maryland State Delegate and State Senator Bobby Zirkin began his political career as President of the Young Democrats of Maryland 25 years ago.  From that position, a political career was launched that spanned nearly a quarter of a century, including a prime-time speaking role at the Democratic National Convention, an upset victory to the Maryland House of Delegates, election to the Maryland State Senate, and five years serving as the Chairman of the powerful Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.  In sum Bobby served the citizens of District 11 and Maryland for 21 years in the Maryland General Assembly.

As a first-year law student at the Georgetown University Law Center, Bobby created and led the ‘Democratic Youth Tour’ traveling the nation on behalf of President Bill Clinton.  The tour crisscrossed the nation holding events to raise awareness and register new voters for the Clinton re-election.  In 1996, Bobby was honored as the speaker at the Democratic National Convention representing the Young Democrats of America for his national efforts.

Following that tour, Bobby returned home and began a campaign for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.  At the age of 26, Bobby won an upset victory to represent Maryland’s 11th District.  In the House, Bobby served on the Judiciary Committee and chaired the Juvenile Law Committee, focusing attention on summer education for at-risk youth, juvenile justice, group homes, and child welfare.  Bobby was an early and strong supporter of medical cannabis in Maryland, co-sponsoring legislation, serving as a key voice in the debate, and helping to pass Maryland’s first medical cannabis laws.  After serving 8 years in the House, Bobby won a seat in the Maryland State Senate.

In 2006, Bobby began serving his first term in the State Senate.  His Senate career would span 13 years and include time on the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.  For the last 5 years in office, Bobby served as the Chairman of the Judicial Proceedings, one of only four standing committees in the Senate.  In that role, Bobby introduced and passed important legislation on issues such as criminal justice reform, police-community relations, cyber-bullying, juvenile justice, group home reform, civil procedure, family law, divorce reform, sex offender crimes, drunk driving, domestic violence, human trafficking, and drug policy reform.  Bobby was the lead sponsor of Maryland’s nationally acclaimed anti-cyberbullying law, the nation’s first law banning fracking, and countless pieces of legislation in the civil and criminal justice areas of law.  

Bobby was a key legislator on the Committee that passed Maryland’s current medical cannabis law, serving as the leader of House-Senate negotiations on the issue.  Since the initial passage of the legislation, Bobby has sponsored multiple bills to continue to upgrade and refine the medical cannabis law including areas such as worker’s compensation, employment, cannabis research, edibles, medical cannabis in the prison system, advertising laws, parole and probation, physician registration, licensing, and contracts.

Bobby was also the driving force behind Maryland’s decriminalization of marijuana and the expungement of marijuana convictions, serving as the lead sponsor of both pieces of legislation.  As Maryland has moved away from the failed policies of the past, Bobby continued to push for implementation of laws to eliminated the criminalization of marijuana.  Importantly, Bobby worked across the political aisle and received overwhelming bipartisan support for legislation passed in this area of the law.

Bobby was also the leading voice on Maryland’s ground-breaking criminal justice reform known as the “Justice Reinvestment Act” which reformed elements of the entire justice system including sentencing, parole and probation, services, and drug treatment.  Bobby’s insistence on drug policy reform in the legislation led to a dramatic increase in drug treatment in lieu of incarceration, funding for expanded treatment opportunities, reformation of Maryland’s 8-507 drug treatment program, and significant expanded expungement opportunities for drug offenders. 

After 21 years in public office, Bobby stepped aside to focus attention on his family and work in the private sector.  Bobby now looks to bring his 25 years of political experience to his work on behalf of his clients.  Bobby is known for his ability to tackle complicated issues, seek consensus across the political spectrum, and bring solutions to complex problems.  Bobby is the Senior Partner at Zirkin and Schmerling Law and the founder and Managing Senior Partner at the Government Relations Firm of ZS Public Affairs.