Judge Bo Earnest

Broughton “Bo” Earnest is a 1965 graduate of Washington and Lee University where he played on the varsity football and lacrosse teams for four years. After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1968, Bo started his legal career as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1969 to 1973. Bo and his wife Ray moved to the Eastern Shore in 1973. He served as Deputy State’s Attorney for Talbot County for two years. He served as President of Earnest and Cowdrey with offices in Easton and Annapolis for 18 years. In 1991 he joined the law firm of Piper and Marbury, the largest law firm in the world.

  Judge Earnest was appointed to the Circuit Court for Talbot County by Governor Martin O’Malley. He has served as President of the Talbot County Bar Association, served on the Board of Directors of Maryland Trail Lawyers Association, and named a Maryland Super Lawyer. He has been admitted to the bar of numerous state and federal courts including the United States Supreme Court and has served in leadership roles on the Section Counsel of Criminal Law Section and the Litigation Section of Maryland State Bar Association. He has served as a lecturer on numerous topics for the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers. His civic activities have included serving as President of the Talbot County Historical Society and Southern Africa Wildlife Trust He was a co-founder and current President of Mid Shore Pro Bono, Inc., an award-winning organization dedicated to providing free legal services for the poor in a five county area on the Eastern Shore.  He also served on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Bureau, the state-wide organization providing free legal services for the poor. 

   Judge Earnest is married to Ray Earnest and for the last 25 years they have practiced law together. Judge Earnest and his wife have two grown children and a youthful golden retriever, Charlie. They make their home in Easton.

Internet Safety workshop

Sheriff R. Gery Hofmann III started his career as an auxiliary police officer with the Annapolis City Police Department just after completing High School. He then worked as a seasonal police officer for the Ocean City Police Department. He also worked full time for the Centreville Police Department.

He has achieved the ranks of Deputy First Class, Corporal, Sergeant within the Office of the Sheriff, Queen Anne’s County. He is presently serving as Queen Anne’s County Sheriff. He is also currently Second Vice President of the Maryland Crime Prevention Association.

Tom McKnight

Tom is a recovering alcoholic of 17 years. He started drinking at the young age of 12 and by the time he was old enough to drive a car he was an alcoholic. Tom is alcohol free and desires to inform of the dangers of taking that first sip. He was born and raised in West Virginia and has lived in Maryland for 20 years. Tom enjoys spending time outdoors (riding my Harley) with my family and friends, church, cooking and yes eating.

Bert Robertson

Bert Robertson and his wife Sharon are advocates against drunk driving.  In August of 1981 their 8 year old son Brian Robertson, was killed by a drunk driver in their driveway on Kent Island. Both Bert and Sharon have worked on addressing this problem through legislative measures and directly speaking to audiences making them aware of the consequences of driving while impaired.

       Bert is a retired salesperson and Sharon a retired Queen Anne County educator.  Both are involved with “Character Counts” at Grasonville Elementary School where their grandchildren Samantha, age 7, and Michael, age 10, attend school.

       Since their son Brian was killed there have been over 500,000 more deaths caused by drunk driving. Since 1981 an additional 2,500,000 have been permanently injured.

      Both parents have been involved with various community issues since they moved to the Eastern Shore in 1974.  Sharon has been on the Community Partnerships for Children and Families Board and has had numerous projects at Chesapeake College. Bert was one of the founding members of the Kent Island Youth Soccer League, and has been a member of numerous organizations over the years, including now the QAC Drug-Free Coalition. Bert has spoken to over 250,000 high school and college students.  He also has spoken to convicted drunk drivers for over 25 years.

Tara Widener – Tara has dealt with drug addiction through out high school and into college. She has overcome her addition through Celebrate Recovery – A Christian (8) step program.

Youth Developmental Assets

Jacki Carter and Linda Walls will co-lead this power-packed session, designed to energize both teen and adult participants about Youth Developmental Assets.  Youth Assets is a growing international campaign encouraging communities to focus on the strengths of young people.  Adults will learn fun ways to engage young people as resources and teens will learn fun ways to engage children.  This is sure to be a memorable workshop for anyone who chooses to attend.