Page 24 - February 2022 Issue.indd

Caroline CASA an election year and the students’ assignment was to present
campaign speeches to the rest of the class. I looked around and
Court Appointed Special Advocate there was Master Asparagus. One of those students had been
in her courtroom and told her about the speeches.”
Magistrate Asparagus Retires

The CASA of Caroline Board of Directors, volunteer advocates,
For the past 24 years, JoAnn Asparagus has and staff congratulate Magistrate Asparagus on her retirement

served the families and children of Caroline and thank her for her service and commitment to the children,
County as the Family Magistrate. She is the longest-serving families, and citizens of Caroline County!

magistrate on the Eastern Shore and the first woman of color to

The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention funded this project under

hold that position. On January 31st, Magistrate Asparagus sat
sub-award number CJAC-2019-0004 and VOCA-2018-0063. All points of view
on the bench for the last time and this month marks her offi cial in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the
retirement and the beginning of the next chapter in her life. official position of any State or Federal Agency. This project is supported by a

grant from the Maryland Judiciary’s Administrative Office of the Courts number
During her tenure, Magistrate Asparagus has made a profound AOC-G20CA0225I.
impact on the Caroline community by working to keep
children safe and families together. Her philosophy has always
been to work with individuals and families to help them reach
their own decisions, but she has also recognized the value of
a CASA volunteer when children are involved. “She always
made sure the CASA advocates had a voice in the cases,” said
Geraldine Warner, a CASA of Caroline volunteer for more
than 10 years. “She has been more than fair with her cases, is
very nice and helpful, and it has been a pleasure working with
her”, added Warner. Fellow CASA volunteer Michelle Gilliam
said, “Magistrate Asparagus has been a great asset to the family
court in Caroline County. She has always valued the role and
reports of the CASA and will be truly missed.”
Many people may not realize Magistrate Asparagus travels
from Talbot County to get to work and to show up for the
Caroline County community in numerous other ways. She
attends every CASA of Caroline event, including the Pinwheels
for Prevention pinwheel planting. She has attended every
Caroline County MLK Day Walk since its inception 10 years
ago. And she shows up not just for the events, but for the
people. Local attorney Walter Palmer recalls one instance
several years ago when touring the Individualized Education
Program (IEP) at North Caroline High School. “It was during

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