Author: Joan Bellistri

Law Library Director for the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library

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lawlibrary

Early Voting Begins Tomorrow for the 2016 General Election in Maryland

Early voting will be available in Maryland, Thursday, October 27, 2016 through Thursday, November 3, 2016 from 8 am until 8 pm. You can find a list of early voting sites here: http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2016/2016_general_Early_Voting_Locations.pdf 

Not registered to vote? You can now register and vote during the early voting period. To register at an early voting site you will need a document that proves where you live such as your “your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address.”

To find out more please visit the Maryland State Board of Elections website.

 

 

 

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono

PRO BONO IS NOT SO SCARY

pro-bono-banner-2016As we celebrate Pro Bono during the National Pro Bono Celebration, the Local Pro Bono Committee hopes that Anne Arundel County attorneys will consider the many opportunities for pro bono service in our county.  But before we talk about the how of pro bono, perhaps we should talk about why.  As an attorney you have the power to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in Anne Arundel County – the elderly, children and the poor.  Your help can be the deciding factor as to whether someone has a place to live, custody of their child, or a job.

There are so many ways that attorneys can provide pro bono service in Anne Arundel County – from brief legal advice to full representation.   The many opportunities available to Anne Arundel County Attorneys are included here. 

Continue reading “PRO BONO IS NOT SO SCARY”
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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer in the Library and MVLS Foreclosure Clinic Wrap-up

On Wednesday, October 19, 2016, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer in the Library program. Thank you, Crighton Chase from Hillman, Brown and Darrow, for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Four people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as car insurance, elder law, homeowner associations, and consumer protection. The next program date in the circuit court  is Wednesday, October 26, 2016.

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Susan Mays

Since this was the 3rd Wednesday of the month, the library also hosted the MVLS Foreclosure Clinic at the same time, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as the Ask a Lawyer program.  Susan Mays was able to provide brief legal advice on foreclosure to two people.

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Alan Forman and Nickola Sybblis
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Cliff O’Connor and Katelyn Maloney

And because it was 3rd Wednesday, the Ask a Lawyer in the program was also held at the Glen Burnie Regional Library in the evening from 4:30 until 6:30.  Three attorneys volunteered: Alan Forman of Forman Clothier Law Group; Nickola Sybblis who has a solo practice; and Cliff O’Connor of Holmes and O’Connor.  Tonight Cliff brought the firm’s new associate, Katelyn Maloney, who also happens to be his daughter to observe.  We are  happy  to add Katelyn to our volunteer list.

The attorneys were able to assist 15 people with a variety of issues including landlord and tenant; property damage; taxes; real estate; employment; estates; and housing.

The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery.  On the 3rd Wednesday of the month the MVLS Brief Limited Advice Foreclosure Clinic is hosted by the library.  Particpants are encourage to register for the clinic by calling 410-547-6537, but pre-registration is not required. The Ask a Lawyer program is also held in the evening once a month in the Anne Arundel County Public Library – at the Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and at the  Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday of the month. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

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Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up with Chris Boucher

Chris Boucher was the “Lawyer in the Library” today. Chris has been volunteering with this program for over nine years – since the first pilot during Law Week of 2009. He now shares the second Wednesday slot with Mike Valadez – with Chris coming in the even months and Mike in the odd numbered months.  Chris’ dedication and service is greatly appreciated by the many he has served.  Today the issues included understanding summary judgment, appeals, and amending a complaint.

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Chris Boucher

Chris Boucher has practiced law for 23 years and now has a solo practice that handles corporate matters, contracts and litigation. He is also half-time general counsel for a tech company.  He is the current president of the Maryland Defense Counsel, an organization for a fair, civil justice system comprised of those who represent defendants in civil cases including in-house counsel and government attorneys. When not practicing law Chris enjoys golf, boating, music and travel.

Chris has stayed with the “Ask a Lawyer” program for so long because he likes to help people and provide access to justice wherever he can.  He enjoys helping program participants learn about legal concepts and procedures in order to orient them in the system that they find themselves in.

The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

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Categories
lawlibrary Maryland Law

Keeping Current with Maryland Rules of Procedure

The “Maryland Rules”  regulate the practice, procedure, and judicial administration of Maryland courts. These Rules are based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure Rules and adopted by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

The most recent Rules Order is dated June 6, 2016 and was effective July 1, 2016 and is the implementation of the 178th Report. Among other changes, this rules order involves a major reorganization of the titles in the rules dealing with Court Administration; Judges and Judicial Appointees; and Attorneys. A printout of the 178th Report can be found in the law library shelved with the Maryland Code and Rules.  It consists of 553 pages!  The full text of the new rules can also be found in Maryland Advance Reports, September 2, 2016,  #36.

The Maryland Rules of Procedure are available in a number of formats from different publishers. It is important to note that even though the most recent Rules Order is dated June 6, 2016 not all of these formats reflect those changes. Basically, the online versions and one print version are current:

CURRENT:

  • Lexis rules online (lexis.com and free  reflects the 178th Report Rules Order of 6/6/2016
  • Westlaw rules online (WestlawNext and free reflects the 178th Report Rules Order of 6/16/2016
  • Maryland Advance Reports, September 2, 2016,  #36 contains the text of the rules affected by the June 6, 2016 Rules Order.
  • West Maryland Rules of Court (print) with supplement reflects the 178th Report Rules Order of 6/6/2016

NOT CURRENT:

  • Maryland Rules (print) published by LexisNexis are current only through  4/4/2016
  • Annotated Code of  Maryland Rules (print) are current only through 2/1/2016

To make sure the rules you are using are current, it is a good idea to  check the postings on the webpage of the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure Rules at Mdcourts.gov and compare with the “current as of” information in whichever version you are using.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Court Holiday

The Law Library is closed today, Monday, October 10, 2016, for the Columbus Day holiday.  The Law Library will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, October 11, 2016.  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. until 4:30 p.m.

 

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lawlibrary Pro Bono

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, October 5, 2016 the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. The duo Mike Ragland and Jack Paltell  were, as they have  been for years, the “lawyers in the library.” Jack and Mike have volunteered on the first Wednesday of every month since 2009. Their dedication is truly appreciated by all they have helped.Six people took part in the program and were able to  to request assistance with issues such as trusts, guardianship, tax liens and credit card debt. The next program date is Wednesday,October 12 , 2016.jack-and-mike

More information about the program is available at http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library. The Ask A Lawyer In The Law Library program is a limited legal advice service. The program is not a substitute for representation. If you need an attorney to represent you, you can contact the Anne Arundel Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

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lawlibrary Self Represented

Expungement Clinic Wrap-Up

The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) sponsored an Expungement Clinic at the Glen Burnie Regional Library on September 27, 2016 in the evening from 5:00 p.m. until 8:45 p.m.  There were 4 volunteer attorneys who were able to help 16 people complete expungement petitions for filing.  Matthew Stubenberg of MVLS coordinated the program. Matthew is known for developing MDexpungement.com, an APP that can determine if a case is eligible for expungement and then populate the form with the information needed for filing.

More information on expungement can be found on the library’s FAQs wiki page under “expungement.”  The page provides access to the Judiciary’s Access to Justice Department’s self-help video on expungement with tip sheet, articles on the Maryland People’s Law Library of Maryland, and the brochure published by the District Court of Maryland “Information About Removing Criminal Records from Public Access in Maryland” and many more resources.

The referral section contains  links to clinics and APPS that can help with expungement of criminal records.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Report for August and September

In August and September, 18 attorneys volunteered 31 hours to help 77 people with legal issues such as bankruptcy, protective orders, wills, and family law for the Ask a Lawyer in the Library program .  The Eastport program just began in June and the numbers of those using the service is increasing from 3 at the first to 7 at the program held on September 27.  We are happy to welcome the new volunteers who have helped in this new location: Jerry Williams, Stacy Rice, Michelle Smith, Kelly Kylis, Elizabeth Pfenson, Matthew Chalker, Kathleen McLaughlin and Kurt Karsten.

The MVLS Foreclosure Clinic scheduled on the 3rd Wednesday of the month is now held during the same hours as the Ask A Lawyer in the Law Library program: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lately, only one person has attended giving them ample time to discuss their case with the volunteer attorney, Susan Mays.

The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. The program is also held at two additional locations, monthly, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:3o p.m. On the 3rd Wednesday of the month it is held  at the Glen Burnie Regional Library and on the last (not the 4th) Tuesday of the month at the Eastport -Annapolis Neck Community Library.  For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by Family Law Self-Help Center which is located in the back of the law library.  For more information: http://www.circuitcourt.org/legal-help/family-law

Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about the Office of the Public Defender is available at http://www.opd.state.md.us/.

Need help with a District Court matter such as landlord/tenant, small claims (less than $5,000), consumer matters, or return of property (replevin and detinue)? The District Court Self-Help Resource Center provides limited legal services for people who are not represented by an attorney. Services are provided in-person in the  Glen Burnie District Court at   at 7500 Gov. Ritchie Highway,Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061.  More information is available at: http://www.courts.state.md.us/legalhelp/districtctselfhelpctr.html 

 

 

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lawlibrary

Why no posts in September?

books

In August, Chi Song began working at the Maryland State Law Library after working in the AACPLL during the two years while she was pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science.  Chi was a great asset to the library and is very much missed by me and those who use the library. Obviously, one cannot manage this library alone especially since ThomsonReuters (West)  seems to be sending so many updates recently. Things should improve once the new Law Library Associate starts later this month.  Until then I will continue to juggle the many tasks needed to keep the law library going.