Judge ready to reverse order removing Penman from council; won’t say if he should be reinstated

Former Harford County Council member Aaron Penman inched closer Friday to potentially being returned to his former seat during a hearing in circuit court.

Circuit Judge W. Michel Pierson said Friday he is willing to vacate the 2025 order that forced Penman, a Republican, from office,  after the Appellate Court of Maryland ruled in April reversed that ruling. But Pierson stopped short of restoring Penman to his former office saying the current office holder, Alison Imhoff, should be heard.

Penman wins appeal, reinstatement to seat on Harford County Council

Pierson’s decision Friday set in motion a serious of efforts to get Imhoff into the Bel Air courtroom.

Meanwhile, Pierson recessed proceedings to begin drafting an order to vacate the original injunction and add Imhoff as a party to the hearing on whether Penman should be restored to the office he was forced from in January 2025.

The judge Friday morning said he would like to add Imhoff to the case.

If she appears when the hearing resumes, she could waive the rights the judge expressed concerns about. It is not clear if she would do so.

Penman had filed to run for his former seat in the 2026 election. But he later withdrew his candidacy, when the appeals court had not issued a ruling as the deadline to withdraw approached.

Penman has since endorsed Imhoff, who is running to keep the seat to which she was appointed.

— This story will be updated.