Author: Joan Bellistri

Law Library Director for the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library

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lawlibrary Legal Technology

Maryland Judiciary’s Case Search Has a New Look

Maryland Judiciary ‘s Case Search is an online service that allows users to view what has been filed in Maryland courts. Case Search does not provide access to the actual documents which can only be accessed in a courthouse using a public MDEC kiosk. A new interface for Case Search was introduced on February 5, 2024. Please see the Press Release of January 17, 2024

The interface is now more straight forward and easier to read. The “new” Case Search still requires that users read and agree with the disclaimer.

After agreeing, the first option is to search by case number:

There is also an option to search by party name:

To search using other criteria such a county, court, party type or case type there is an Advanced Search option.

Access Case Search here. If you need assistance with searching, please contact the law library.

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lawlibrary

New Year – New Law Library – Same Great Service

Did you know that the law library has moved not once but twice in the last three years? The law library is now in a great new space right inside the front door of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court – right after security.  (Room 301 – the old jury office.)

  • From the old
  • to the new …

The law library moved to the AABA Lawyers’ Lounge in September 2020. (The law library space was needed for the social distancing of jurors.) This was a much smaller space with only four workspaces and computers. It was also difficult to find. Still, with COVID limiting access to the courthouse and then having such a small space, the law library could offer access to the same services as before:

  • Research assistance
  • Online legal research databases including Lexis and Westlaw
  • Legal research training and instruction
  • Online query formulation
  • Research co-browsing
  • Document delivery
  • Technology and MDEC assistance
  • Pro bono coordination
  • Circulation of legal texts and treatises

The law library had converted much of the United States resources to a digital format with a plan to gradually acclimate library users to more reliance on online.  With COVID, the plan was accelerated. Luckily, Lexis and Westlaw already provided access to just about all the material once held in print. Use of online resources does make it easy to email information and even provide co-browsing research sessions with results sent via email.

The Maryland collection is still available in print and superseded codes have also been retained for historic research.  Use the catalog to see what is in the collection whether print or digital: https://a94031.eos-intl.net/A94031/OPAC/

The law library now provides a variety of workspaces, 13 computers with access to legal research databases and Microsoft office, a Maryland print collection and a small conference room equipped with videoconferencing capability. It is a great space to visit for legal research, client consults, document preparation and copies. But if you are not in the courthouse, just call (410-222-1387) or email (AALawLibrarian@mdcourts.gov) and take advantage of library services wherever you are.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library will be closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

The Law Library and the Family Court Help Center in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court will be closed on January 15, 2024, in observance of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. An article describing how this holiday came to be from the National Museum of African American History & Culture and be found here.

The Law Library will reopen on January 16, 2024.  A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website at http://www.circuitcourt.org/court-holidays. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

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lawlibrary

What’s new …

Library titles have been updated with a new edition or supplement.

From Thomson Reuters (West):

Maryland Workers’ Compensation: KFM1542 .S63

Civil Procedure Forms: KFM1730 .A65 L5

Maryland Litigation Forms and Analysis: KFM1730 .A65 M372

Trial Handbook for Maryland Lawyers: KFM1738 .S74

All of the above can also be found on Westlaw using library computers.

From LexisNexis:

Maryland Environmental Law: KFM1554 .A15

Guide to Maryland Zoning Decisions: KFM1658 .A59 A25

Maryland Criminal Jury Instructions and Commentary: KFM1783 .A92

See Lexis for online access to these titles on any library computer.

From the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC):

Student Loan Law SELF HELP NCLC KF4235 .L66 2023

Mortgage Servicing and Loan Modification SELF HELP NCLC KF697.F6 2023

Truth in Lending SELF HELP NCLC KF1040.T46 2023

All NCLC titles are included in the NCLC Digital Library available on all library computers.

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lawlibrary

New Rules – January 1, 2024

The 219th Report of the Supreme Court Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure was filed November 28, 2023. The report adopts new rule 9-204.3 and amends rules 1-202, 2-202, 2-433, 2-501, 2-504, 2-507, 2-541, 3-202, 3-731, 4-329, 4-504, 7-112, 9-202, 9-208, 9-211, 10-105, 10-106, 14-503, 16-302, 16-307, 16-914, 18-407, 18-412, 18-421, 18-422, 18-423, 18-424, 18-426, 18-431, 18-433, 18-437, 18-441, 18-442, 19-103, 19-218, 19-301.7, 19-304.2, 19-304.4, 19-305.5, 19-505, 19-605, 19-751, and 19-752. The new rules are in effect January 1, 2024.

Here are some highlights of the Maryland Rule changes:

New rule 9-204.3. PREVENTION OF CHILD ABDUCTION provides for a petition for an abduction prevention order.

Rule 2-433 (b) SANCTIONS – Failure to Preserve Electronically Stored Information – was amended to replace current section (b) with new section (b), by adding a Committee note following section (b), and by making stylistic changes.

Rule 3-202 CAPACITY- was amended to create new subsection (b)(1) with the language of current section (b), with stylistic changes, and by adding new subsection (b)(2) concerning a peace order filed on behalf of a minor.

Rule 9-211. RESTORATION OF FORMER NAME AFTER JUDGMENT OF ABSOLUTE DIVORCE – was amended by deleting and adding language to section (d) establishing that service is not required and by making a
stylistic change to section (e).

Rules included in the 217th Report of the Supreme Court Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure filed on September 22, 2023 will also go into effect on January 1, 2024. The 217th Report adopts new Rule 16-504.1 and amendments to current Rules 16-502, 16-
503, 16-504, and 16-901. These rules concern the “recording of proceedings.”

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library closed for the New Year’s Holiday

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The Law Library, the Family Court Help Center, and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County will be closed on January 1, 2024 for the New Year’s Holiday.  The Law Library will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Except on Court Holidays, the library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 

Happy New Year!

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library Closed for Christmas Holiday

The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Family Court Help Center will be closed on Monday, December 25, 2023.

The court will reopen on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. The Law Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm except for court holidays.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library Closed for Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day

The Law Library, the Family Court Help Center, and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County are closed today November 23, 2023 for the Thanksgiving Holiday and tomorrow, November 24, 2023, for Native American Heritage Day.  The Law Library will reopen on Monday, November 27, 2023. Except on Court Holidays, the library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

This article, Congress Establishes Thanksgiving, at the National Archives website describes how Thanksgiving became a holiday.

November is National Native American Heritage month. Find out more here. President Biden’s Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month urges all Americans to celebrate November 24, 2023, as Native American Heritage Day.

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lawlibrary

What’s new … Maryland Civil Pattern Jury Instructions, 5th ed Updated

The Maryland Civil Pattern Jury Instructions, 5th edition, have been updated with 2023 replacement pages. The updated instructions include “new instructions for Employment: Sexual Harassment (MPJI-Cv 22:11(B); revised instructions on Employment: Harassment–Generally (MPJI-Cv 22:11A) and Employment: Wrongful or Abuse Discharge (MPJI-Cv 22:2). Also included are updated and expanded commentary, new case law, and statutory references in instructions in the following chapters: Agency, Business Torts, Damages, Deceit, Intentional Interference with the Person, Negligence–General Concepts, Employment, Professional Liability, Maryland Constitutional Torts, and Workers Compensation.”

The new instructions can be found on the shelf (KFM1742.6 .M37 2017) and are also available online via Lexis in the law library and on Westlaw for court users.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Anne Arundel County Public Law Library closed for Veterans Day.

The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County will be closed for Veterans Day, Friday, November 10, 2023.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I.  In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars. Read more here.

Except on Court Holidays, the law Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website here.