Category: lawlibrary

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lawlibrary

What’s New…

New from the National Consumer Law Center!

The Law Library has added new editions from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC). Often referred to as “the bibles of consumer law” and “nation’s consumer law expert”, the NCLC is dedicated to helping their consumers, advocates, and public policy makers on behalf of low-income and vulnerable Americans seeking economic justice. Most of their authors are typically NCLC staff attorneys with more than 21 or even more than 40 years of consumer law expertise.

Books that have been cataloged include Consumer and Worker Arbitration Provisions, 9th Edition, as well as Federal Deception & Abuse Law, 5th Edition.

Call Number: KF 9084 .B53 2024     Call Number: KF 1609 .S524 2024

Maryland Sentencing Guidelines

A new edition of the Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy’s Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Manual: Version 16.1 is now available in the law library (KFM1763 .M3) and online. The changes went into effect on November 1, 2024.

This publication is also available on the website of the Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy here.

Call Number: KFM 1763 .M3

Maryland Civil Pattern Jury Instructions

A new Maryland Civil Pattern Jury Instructions, 5th edition, has arrived with the 2024 update. This edition contains two new chapters which address two areas that haven’t been previously addressed, employment law and constitutional torts.

The new instructions can be found on the shelf (KFM 1742.6 .M37 2024) and are also available online via Lexis in the law library for court users.

Call Number:

KFM 1742.6 .M37 2024

MSBA (Maryland State Bar Association) and NBI (National Business Institute

From the MSBA (Maryland State Bar Association) and the NBI (National Business Institute). The following titles are also available on Lexis in the law library:

Maryland Practice Civil Procedure Forms (2024)—Volumes 3 and 4

Call Number:  KFM 1730 .A65 L5 2024

Maryland Workers’ Compensation (2024-2025)—Volumes 1 and 2

Call Number: KFM 1542 .S63 2024

Maryland Estate Administration from Start to Finish

Published by NBI (National Business Institute):

Call Number:

KFM 1347 .J6 2024

Categories
Access to Justice lawlibrary

National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) Offers Free Practice Aids

A recent email from NCLC cites to their article entitled, Hundreds of Free Practice Aids on the NCLC Digital Library, stating that [the] “NCLC Digital Library contains a massive amount of free consumer law practice aids, in addition to the 21 NCLC treatises requiring a subscription. This article describes twelve available types of free resources, including free access to Surviving Debt, the Federal Practice Manual for Legal Aid Attorneys, a student loan toolkit, eleven consumer law practice checklists, and 21 chapters and over 70 appendices from NCLC treatises.”

See more about these resources here. The law library’s subscription includes the print and online access to the full NCLC library.

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lawlibrary

What’s new …

New editions are on the shelf in the Anne Arundel County Public law Library.

From the MSBA (Maryland State Bar Association) The following titles are also available on Lexis here in the law library:

KFM1783.M3 2024

This new edition of the Maryland Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions includes new instructions and revisions to the current instructions.

KFM1344.1 .W68 2024

“The book contains dozens of forms, from sample clauses that provide the practitioner with options to consider when drafting discrete provisions (such as those necessary to define and limit classes of beneficiaries or name guardians and trustees), to full renditions of different types of wills. “

Published by NBI (National Business Institute):

KFM1738.M3 2024

“Hearing what acting judges prefer to see in their courtrooms to make the gears of justice move more smoothly is invaluable to every attorney: veteran and novice alike.”

KFM1344.1.G69 2024

This publication includes forms for wills and trusts.

From NCLC (National Consumer Law Center). All of the NCCL titles are also available online in the law library in the NCLC Digital Library.

SELF HELP NCLC KF695.P59 2024

SELF HELP NCLC KF8896.R67 2024

SELF HELP NCLC KF2094.A33 2024

Published by the Office of the Maryland Attorney General:

KFM1662.6.A25 C8 2023

This publication is also available on the website of the Maryland Attorney General here.

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lawlibrary

What’s new…

New editions added to the Law Library:

West’s annotated code of the public general laws of Maryland : Maryland Rules

Maryland Rules of Court: State and Federal

Books from the National Business Institute:

Advanced estate administration: A Maryland Guide: KFM13337 .F6 2023

Marijuana business law in Maryland: KFM1574.5 .M3 A72

Auto injury claims in Maryland: what insurance companies don’t want you to know: KFM1394 .A4 H8 2023

Maryland probate and trust administration: KFM1344 .J 2023

Trusts and taxes in Maryland from A to Z: KFM1337 .D45 2023

Maryland trusts guide: KFM1337 .E8 2023

Maryland Probate Process: In 7 Simple Steps: KFM1344 .A4 2024

Categories
lawlibrary

What’s New…

New editions added to the Law Library:

Maryland Criminal Law and Motor Vehicle Handbook: KFM1761 .M37 2023-2024

Residential Real Estate Transactions: KFM1326 .R47 2024

DSM-5-TR: REF RC455.2 C4 D55 2022

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lawlibrary

Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Updates

The Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy’s newest edition of its Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Manual: Version 16.0 is available in the law library (KFM1763 .M3) and online. The changes went into effect on February 1, 2024. Guidelines E-NEWS Vol. 19 summarizes some of the changes: 

  • Clarifying instructions that animals are not considered victims in the multiple victims stacking rule 
  • Newly adopted instructions relating to the guidelines scoring for offenses with mandatory consecutive sentences 
  • Modified instructions for scoring weapons presence points for Part C of the offense score when the offense involves the presence of a feigned weapon 
  • Clarifying instructions relating to the guidelines scoring for sentences to probation before judgment (PBJ) pursuant to the criminal Procedure Article (CP), § 6-220(c) 
Categories
lawlibrary

What’s New…

New Editions Added to the Law Library from Lexis.

Maryland Rules of Procedure 2024 

Maryland Civil Procedure Forms: with practice commentary: KFM 1730.A65 L5 2023-2024 

Maryland Contract Litigation: KFM 1351.L5 2024 

Maryland Motor Vehicle Insurance: KFM 1391 .A4 J34 2024 

Maryland School laws and Regulations Annotated: KFM 1590 .A29 M37 2023-2024 

Maryland School Law Deskbook: KFM 1590 .M38 2023-2024 

Categories
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.