The Law Day webpage of American Bar Association states that Law Day is held on May 1st every year to celebrate the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession. Read the ABA’s History of Law Day to find out more.
To celebrate please visit the exhibit at the Library of Congress online, Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote.
National Library Week begins today. The original theme was “Find Your Place at the Law Library.” With so much change in how libraries of all types are operating, an alternate theme was devised.
Maryland Court Law Libraries will be unable to provide in-person assistance until June and as a result are trying to make sure that previous in-person users are aware that law libraries can be accessed remotely.
Maryland public libraries, like the Anne Arundel County Public Library, are offering online programming and access. The Anne Arundel County Public Library provides access to their digital library, resources for learning and an “ask a question” link.
Please take time to visit your local public library and law library in Anne Arundel County to celebrate National Library Week. I know that we will be happy to “see” you online and look forward to seeing you in person in the future.
Information on power of attorney, health care power of attorney (health care directives) and standby guardianship for children (delegation of parental authority) can now be found here, all in one place, on the Maryland Judiciary’s website.
The page states:
This page provides some standard legal forms to help you prepare for death, incapacity, or unavailability. These documents are complicated and can have serious consequences. Consider consulting with a lawyer before you sign any paperwork.
With the limited access to the courts now, and the law libraries and walk-in self- help centers housed there, it is the perfect time to download the new and improved Maryland Law Help App.
New features listed on the Maryland Law Help webpage include:
This APP is your direct link to the Maryland People’s Law Library and the remote Maryland Courts Self-Help Center.
The Access to Justice Commission has added a number of legal information one-pagers to their COVID-19 Resource Page. Topics include
The Self Litigation Litigation Network (SRLN) has been hosting problem solving calls for who provide service to the unrepresented or the SRL. One concern is the availability of certain forms such as power of attorney, health care directives and standby guardianship for children. In Maryland these forms can be found online:
Maryland Legal Service providers are continuing to provide services and intake remotely:
Updated 4/28/2020
The Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy‘s newest edition of its E-News, Guidelines E-News Vol. 15, No. 2, reports that there is a new Sentencing Guidelines Offense Table, Appendix A of the Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Manual. The changes are effective today, April 1, 2020. The E-News summarizes the changes:
(1) classification of a new offense passed during the 2019 Legislative Session;
(2) addition of CJIS codes for a number of offenses; and
(3) minor edits to the table.
The Maryland People’s Law Library has added a link to a special page for a COVID-19 Update.
Resources there include:
And a link to find out accessibility of Maryland Court Law Libraries.
The Maryland People’s Law Library is always a great source for information on Maryland law written for the non-lawyer.
The National Consumer Law Center has published an article, Major Consumer Protections Announced in Response to COVID-19, that covers the following topics:
NCLC books are available in the law library in print and online. If you need information on any of these consumer topics, please call (410-222-1387) or email the library (AALawLibrarian@mdcourts.gov)
The State of Maryland has created a page with information just for businesses. It provides links to Governor Hogan’s Executive orders, information on business relief measures, as well as interpretations of what is an essential business and contact information for questions.
Other topics on the page include:
There is also link for subscribing for updates.
The Maryland Access to Justice Commission is coordinating information among Maryland Legal Service providers and the courts. Their resource page states:
As a Marylander who may be facing a civil legal issue during this unprecedented time, you may have many questions about the status of your case because the courts have closed to the public or you may be confused about your rights. The Maryland Access to Justice Commission, in partnership with the Maryland State Bar Association, has put together this COVID-19 Resource Page, pulling resources from a multitude of sources to make it easier for you to navigate the civil justice system during this time of emergency. On this A2JC Resource Page, you will not only find links to different orders, but an explanation of what that could mean to you in non-legal language that you can understand. As the federal and state governments continue to take action on the behalf of U.S. and Maryland residents, we will continue to add helpful resources that will help you understand your rights under new COVID-related laws and post timely updates on court procedures impacted by COVID.
The Maryland Bar Association has posted the answers to questions asked of the Judiciary here.
