Scott Rolle
Encyclopedia
Scott L. Rolle was the State's Attorney
for Frederick County, Maryland
from 1995 to 2007.
Scott L. Rolle is an American actor best known for his role as a co-star in the hit television series Brad Meltzer's DECODED. The series is currently in regular rotation on the History Channel. Production on Season 2 is currently under way. Rolle was cast on the series in the spring of 2010. The show involves Rolle and his two co-stars Buddy Levy and Christine McKinley researching historical mysteries. The show is hosted by best-selling author Brad Meltzer, who's latest novel, "The Inner Circle" made the New York Times best seller's list. Rolle is also a licensed practicing attorney in Frederick, Maryland and a Major in the US Army Reserves. He serves in the 154th LSO located in Alexandria, Virginia.
(1984), the Ohio Northern University School of Law (1986) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Law Institute (1997).
Rolle has served as an adjunct professor of Criminal Law at Mount Saint Mary's University
and Frederick Community College
. He is a member of the Bar Association
s of Maryland, West Virginia, and Frederick County
, as well as the United States Federal District Court for Maryland and the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Prior to becoming State’s Attorney, Rolle was in private practice from 1991-1994. He had earlier served as Assistant State’s Attorney (chief narcotics prosecutor) for Frederick County. He has been recognized with many awards for his work as a prosecutor including awards for his work fighting animal cruelty, advocating victim's rights, and his efforts to combat domestic violence.
Rolle was elected to three consecutive terms as State’s Attorney for Frederick County in 1994, and left office 2007 to pursue the office of Maryland Attorney General.
As State’s Attorney, Rolle established a youthful offender program to identify at-risk youth early on. The program used intervention techniques to attempt to place the youth on a more productive life path. He established Maryland’s first animal cruelty prevention and prosecution team to assist animal control officers in investigating and animal cruelty cases. He also initiated a mediation project in an effort to keep minor criminal cases from clogging up the court system.
He has been a strong advocate for victims’ rights and those of their families. Rolle personally prosecuted some of the most complicated and high-profile cases in Frederick County history, obtaining convictions in all of them.
in September 2001, receiving a direct commission
in the Judge Advocate General's Corps
. In 2006, Rolle was defense counsel in the court-martial
of Sergeant Michael Smith, a dog handler at Abu Ghraib
prison, and is credited for the light sentence Smith received based on his arguments to the military jury at sentencing. In January 2008, he was called to active duty
and mobilized for a thirteen-month tour at Fort Meade, Maryland
, and was responsible for most cases arising from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center
in Washington, DC. Rolle spent time in Iraq on a special TDY
mission in late 2008. Rolle was again called to active duty in late 2009 early 2010 to act as Operations Officer for the H1N1 Regional Joint Task Force Alpha. He was assigned to the 200th Military Police Command during this tour. He was promoted to Major in 2010.
MAJ Rolle's military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters]], the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal
, the Army Reserve Component
Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device, and the Army Service Ribbon
.
, and No Dog Theater Productions. He went on to supporting roles in the independent films "Substance" and "Money Matters" as well as various commercials and training films.
In July 2010, he joined the cast of Brad Meltzer's "DECODED", which premiered December 2, 2010, on the History Channel. The series is currently running regularly on History's rotation. Rolle is cast as part of a team of elite researchers/investigators who look into unsolved stories/mysteries from history.
", "The O'Reilly Factor
", "Fox News Live with Rita Cosby
", CNN's
"Burden of Proof" and others. He has been quoted in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times
, and the New York Times as an expert on criminal defense and criminal law.
, with his wife Stacy and their four children.
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
for Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
from 1995 to 2007.
Scott L. Rolle is an American actor best known for his role as a co-star in the hit television series Brad Meltzer's DECODED. The series is currently in regular rotation on the History Channel. Production on Season 2 is currently under way. Rolle was cast on the series in the spring of 2010. The show involves Rolle and his two co-stars Buddy Levy and Christine McKinley researching historical mysteries. The show is hosted by best-selling author Brad Meltzer, who's latest novel, "The Inner Circle" made the New York Times best seller's list. Rolle is also a licensed practicing attorney in Frederick, Maryland and a Major in the US Army Reserves. He serves in the 154th LSO located in Alexandria, Virginia.
Education and early career
He is a graduate of the University of DaytonUniversity of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
(1984), the Ohio Northern University School of Law (1986) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
National Law Institute (1997).
Rolle has served as an adjunct professor of Criminal Law at Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
and Frederick Community College
Frederick Community College
Frederick Community College is a community college in Frederick, Maryland.-Clubs:FCC offers 33 different clubs on campus. To name a few...* Anime* Theater* Republicans* Democrats* Education* Spanish* Math* Newspaper* Tom's Shoes...
. He is a member of the Bar Association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
s of Maryland, West Virginia, and Frederick County
Frederick County
Frederick County is the name of two counties in the United States.* Frederick County, Maryland* Frederick County, Virginia...
, as well as the United States Federal District Court for Maryland and the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Prior to becoming State’s Attorney, Rolle was in private practice from 1991-1994. He had earlier served as Assistant State’s Attorney (chief narcotics prosecutor) for Frederick County. He has been recognized with many awards for his work as a prosecutor including awards for his work fighting animal cruelty, advocating victim's rights, and his efforts to combat domestic violence.
Frederick County State's Attorney
Rolle was the youngest State's Attorney elected in Maryland at the time of his victory in 1994. He defeated a popular, long-term incumbent and was subsequently re-elected twice for a total of three terms. In 2006, Rolle was personally recruited by Governor Robert Ehrlich, Jr and Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele to run for Maryland Attorney General on the Republican ticket. Rolle won 17 of Maryland's 23 counties in that race, but lost to Democrat Douglas Gansler in a closely watched and hard-fought race.Rolle was elected to three consecutive terms as State’s Attorney for Frederick County in 1994, and left office 2007 to pursue the office of Maryland Attorney General.
As State’s Attorney, Rolle established a youthful offender program to identify at-risk youth early on. The program used intervention techniques to attempt to place the youth on a more productive life path. He established Maryland’s first animal cruelty prevention and prosecution team to assist animal control officers in investigating and animal cruelty cases. He also initiated a mediation project in an effort to keep minor criminal cases from clogging up the court system.
He has been a strong advocate for victims’ rights and those of their families. Rolle personally prosecuted some of the most complicated and high-profile cases in Frederick County history, obtaining convictions in all of them.
Awards and recognition
The Daily Record newspaper cited Rolle in 2005 with its prestigious Leadership in Law Award. He has been awarded the Governor’s Citation for his work in the area of forfeiture of drug dealer assets and as chief narcotics prosecutor. He was named Outstanding Young Marylander in 1999 by the Maryland Jaycees for his community service work and work as a prosecutor.Army Reserve
Rolle joined the United States Army ReserveUnited States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
in September 2001, receiving a direct commission
Direct commission officer
A direct commission officer is a uniformed officer who has received a commission without the typical prerequisites for achieving a commission, such as a four year service academy, a four year or two year college ROTC program, or one of the officer candidate school or officer training school...
in the Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
. In 2006, Rolle was defense counsel in the court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
of Sergeant Michael Smith, a dog handler at Abu Ghraib
Abu Ghraib
The city of Abu Ghraib in the Baghdad Governorate of Iraq is located just west of Baghdad's city center, or northwest of Baghdad International Airport. It has a population of 189,000. The old road to Jordan passes through Abu Ghraib...
prison, and is credited for the light sentence Smith received based on his arguments to the military jury at sentencing. In January 2008, he was called to active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
and mobilized for a thirteen-month tour at Fort Meade, Maryland
Fort Meade, Maryland
Fort Meade is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,882 at the 2000 census. It is the home to the National Security Agency, which is located on the US Army post Fort George G...
, and was responsible for most cases arising from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
in Washington, DC. Rolle spent time in Iraq on a special TDY
TDY
A temporary duty assignment , also known as "temporary additional duty" , "temporary duty travel" or "temporary duty" , refers to a United States Government employee travel assignment at a location other than the employee's permanent duty station. They are usually of relatively short duration,...
mission in late 2008. Rolle was again called to active duty in late 2009 early 2010 to act as Operations Officer for the H1N1 Regional Joint Task Force Alpha. He was assigned to the 200th Military Police Command during this tour. He was promoted to Major in 2010.
MAJ Rolle's military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters]], the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
, the Army Reserve Component
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device, and the Army Service Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
.
Acting
Rolle began acting in local community theater productions put on by the Fredericktowne Players, Montgomery PlayhouseMontgomery Playhouse
The Montgomery Playhouse is Maryland's oldest continually-running community theatrical performance group. Formed in 1989 from a merger between through a joint effort of the Board of Directors of both The Kensington/Garret Players and The Montgomery Players, The Montgomery Playhouse, in some form,...
, and No Dog Theater Productions. He went on to supporting roles in the independent films "Substance" and "Money Matters" as well as various commercials and training films.
In July 2010, he joined the cast of Brad Meltzer's "DECODED", which premiered December 2, 2010, on the History Channel. The series is currently running regularly on History's rotation. Rolle is cast as part of a team of elite researchers/investigators who look into unsolved stories/mysteries from history.
In the media
Rolle has appeared on national television and radio programs such as "Larry King LiveLarry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
", "The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
", "Fox News Live with Rita Cosby
Fox News Live
Fox News Live was an American news/talk television program, the hard-news daytime programming of the Fox News Channel. In addition, it also referred to the short headline segments of nearly every hour daily.-About:...
", CNN's
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
"Burden of Proof" and others. He has been quoted in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, and the New York Times as an expert on criminal defense and criminal law.
Private practice
After leaving the State's Attorney's office, Rolle began his own law firm, the Law Offices of Scott L. Rolle, LLC, located in Frederick, Maryland. The firm handles Criminal Defense cases, personal injury/auto accidents, domestic relations, business law and wills and estates. He has served as defense counsel in many high-profile criminal matters around the state of Maryland. In late 2009, Rolle successfully defended Washington County man charged with first degree murder. After a weeklong trial the man was acquitted of first and second degree but guilty of manslaughter. In February 2011, Rolle successfully defended a Pennsylvania man charged with first degree murder. This man was also acquitted of first and third degree murder, but convicted of manslaughter. Instead of a sentence of life in prison without parole, the man received a 5 year sentence. In this highly publicized trial, many long time courtroom observers called Rolle's closing argument to the jury one of the best they have seen. Rolle also won full acquittals on three court martials he handled while on active duty in the US Army, and also on three recent civilian trial including a felony drug case, first degree assault and domestic violence.Personal life
Rolle resides in Frederick County, MarylandFrederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
, with his wife Stacy and their four children.
External links
- RolleLaw.com - official website of Scott Rolle, lawyer
- ScottRolle.tv - official website of Scott Rolle, actor
- Frederick County State's Attorney's Office