The Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy (MSCCSP) has issued a report An Assessment of Racial Differences in Maryland Guidelines-Eligible Sentencing Events. According to the MSCCSP announcement this report is the culmination of the MSCCSP’s analysis of race and sentencing which began in 2020 and its response to the DLS recommendation. It provides a descriptive analysis of racial and ethnic differences in Maryland sentencing for guidelines-eligible sentencing events in calendar years 2018 through 2020.
Contemplating filing a civil action? The Library collection includes two resources that are useful for any litigator, either attorney or pro-se.
Paul Mark Sandler, James K. Archibald and Eleanor T. Chung, Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland. KFM 1735.S26 2022 (MSBA 7th ed. 2022)
The Seventh Edition of this treatise remains popular for library users. Following an introductory chapter on “Fundamental Concepts and Mechanics,” the reader is presented with chapters devoted to substantive causes of action such as “Contracts,” “Torts” and other claims for relief.
Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland is available at the library both in the traditional book form (KFM 1735.S26 2022) and through the library’s Westlaw and Lexis databases.
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Maryland Elements of an Action, KFM 1730.M28 2009-2010 (Thomson West 2009-2010 ed.)
This volume, although no longer updated, is a valuable component of the Maryland Practice Series. Each chapter addresses a cause of action and includes a subpart with the substantive elements of the action, citations to relevant authority, applicable jury instructions, remedies, defenses, statutes of limitations and damages. A second subchapter provides forms.
Because of recent decisions and other issues, the United States Supreme Court has come under increasing scrutiny. Although controversies involving the Justices are best left to the media, research into the Court’s primary function – deciding cases – has become much easier if you know where to look.
The following resources can assist you in your research into the decisions of the Third Branch.
Where do I find the Court’s decisions and some briefs online?
The place to start is with the Supreme Court’s web portal. This page introduces you to the Court. You can learn about the Court, media information, information about Court Rules, view information about oral arguments.
Two of the most useful pages from the Court’s portal are the Opinions page and the Case Document page. The most recent opinions are in a “slip opinion” format, but the Opinions Page also offers a link to the US Reports page, which includes links to entire bound volumes of the United States Reports back to the 1991 Term.
For a serious researcher, the Case Documents page is a valuable resource. This page informs the researcher Where to Find Briefs. The Case Documents page offers a link to the Journal. A valuable reference resource can be found in the Docket Search page. While a list of docket entries in a case might not be particularly enlightening, displaying a case docket will also provide information about briefs that have been filed, including amicus briefs.
Useful Blog about the Supreme Court with up-to-date commentary. Scotusblog describes itself as offering Independent News & Analysis on the U.S. Supreme Court. This is a very useful resource, which provides up-to-date analysis of cases pending or just decided in the current term and presents inciteful analysis.
If you wish to view Supreme Court opinions in their original format, the Library of Congress presents an online collection of the entire Supreme Court canon in PDF format: United States Reports (Official Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court).
Resources at the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library include Westlaw and Lexis, in addition to providing PCs to view Supreme Court databases in Westlaw.
The Law Library is closed today, July 4, 2023, for the Independence Day holiday. The Law Library will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, July5. A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The Department of Legislative Services of the Maryland General Assembly has issued the The 90-Day Report – A Review of the 2023 Legislative Session There were 806 laws enacted in 2023. A list of bills introduced by the Senate and the House in 2023 can be accessed at the Maryland General Assembly website. The effective dates of the Legislation can be viewed on 2023 Chapters – Effective Dates
Legislation that takes effect on July 1, 2023, is listed in 2023 – Chapters – Effective July 1, 2023 This Legislation includes 2022 Chapters that are effective July 1, 2023, including the following with descriptions provided by the Fiscal and Policy Note for each Bill:
HB0837 CH0026 Cannabis Reform (2022 Chapter – Effective July 1, 2023)
Section 4 of this bill, which was originally passed in the 2022 Legislative Session, takes effect on July 1, 2023. Section 4 alters civil/criminal penalties related to cannabis.
SB0653 CH0766 Child in Need of Assistance – Neglect – Cannabis Use
Provides that the use of cannabis by a parent or certain other individuals who care for a child does not qualify as neglect except in certain circumstances for purposes of provisions of law applicable to children in need of assistance.
This bill prohibits a law enforcement officer from (1) initiating a stop or a search of a person, motor vehicle, or vessel based solely on specified types of cannabis-related evidence and (2) conducting a search of specified areas of a motor vehicle or vessel during an investigation of a person solely for driving a motor vehicle or vessel while impaired by or under the influence of cannabis. Evidence discovered or obtained in violation of the bill, including evidence discovered or obtained by consent, is not admissible in a trial, hearing, or other proceeding. In addition, the penalty for smoking cannabis in a public place is reduced for a first offense, to a maximum fine of $50 (rather than $250 under current law) and for a second or subsequent offense, to a maximum fine of $150 (rather than $500 under current law).
HB0021 CH0274 – Property tax – Tax Sales – Notices and Payoff Amount for Redemption
This bill authorizes an owner of owner-occupied residential property – that has been sold at a tax sale and for which a complaint to foreclose the right of redemption has not yet been filed – to request, from the holder of the certificate of sale, the current payoff amount to redeem the property. The current mortgagee of the property and specified others are also authorized to request the current payoff amount. … The bill also requires that an email address be included in the holder’s and the tax collector’s contact information provided in specified notices sent by the holder to the owner and specified others.
SB0756 CH0641 Access to Counsel in Evictions – Funding
This bill extends, through fiscal 2027, a requirement for (1) the Comptroller to distribute $14.0 million annually from the State’s Unclaimed Property Fund to the Access to Counsel in Evictions (ACE) Special Fund and (2) the Governor to include in the budget bill for each associated fiscal year an appropriation of $14.0 million from the ACE Special Fund to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).
HB0707 CH0443 Office of the Comptroller – Taxpayer Advocate Division
Establishing the Taxpayer Advocate Division in the Office of the Comptroller to assist taxpayers and their representatives in resolving certain taxpayer problems and complaints and represent taxpayers’ interests in a certain manner.
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to procure or provide energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) programs and services for electricity customers for the 2024-2026 EmPOWER Maryland Program cycle, subject to specified requirements. The bill also (1) establishes the Green and Healthy Task Force, staffed by DHCD; (2) establishes several reporting and planning requirements for DHCD and the Public Service Commission (PSC), including that DHCD develop a plan to provide energy efficiency retrofits to all low-income households by 2031; and (3) requires the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses (GOSBA) to conduct a related disparity study by December 31, 2025.
Categories
What’s New…
The updated 11th edition of MSBA’s Maryland Divorce and Separation Law (2023) is now on our shelf (catalog record). You can also access the updated text on Lexis in the Law Library. As of today, Westlaw has not yet updated its content from the 10th to 11th editions.
Among the book’s updates is a new section on parenting plans in response to the laws passed in 2020 requiring these plans in custody and/or visitation cases.
In December and January, the Ask A Lawyer in the Library program provided legal advice to seventeen people. Thanks to volunteer attorneys, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell, Saul McCormick, and Michele Manculich for providing this service to the public. In January we were happy to welcome new volunteer attorney, Patrice Clarke. Issues included student loan debt, landlord/tenant, expungement, estate planning and immigration.
The Ask a Lawyer in the Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program held every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on the 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library. You can talk with a volunteer attorney for at least 20 minutes. Registration is required. All sessions are held remotely via Zoom videoconferencing or phone. More information can be found here.
Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by the Family Court Help Center.
Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about representation in criminal cases can be found here.
Categories
New Laws in Effect January 1, 2023
While the bulk of the legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2022 went into effect last October, there are a few new laws whose effective date is this Sunday, including the following:
“Vintage snowflakes” by thethreesisters is licensed under CC BY 2.0 
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The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County will be closed on the court holidays of Friday, December 23rd, Monday, December 26th, and Monday, January 2nd.
Categories
What’s New…
New and updated titles from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) and the National Business Institute (NBI) are now on our shelves covering used car fraud, custody and child support, real property, civil practice, and criminal procedure. See below:
NCLC
- Automobile fraud : odometer, salvage, and lemon laundering fraud, title abuses and yo-yo sales. Authors: Carolyn L. Carter, John W. Van Alst, Jonathan Sheldon ; contributing author, Bernard Brown. SELF HELP NCLC KF2036.A8 S32 2022
See all NCLC titles in our catalog.
NBI
- Advanced custody and support issues in Maryland. Authors: Julius Blattner, David Diggs, Lynndolyn T. Mitchell, Gregg H. Mosson, David D. Nowak. KFM1304.6 .B5 2022
- Maryland real property law: understanding title, transfers, and encumbrances. Authors: Jodie E. Buchman, Jeffrey W. Thompson. KFM1327 .B8 2022
- Maryland civil practice, procedure, and forms. Author: Jan Berlage [and five others]. KFM1738 .B4 2022
See all NBI titles in our catalog.
MSBA
- Warnken’s Maryland criminal procedure. Authors: Byron L. Warnken, G. Adam Ruther, editor, [and seven others]. KFM1761 .W37 2022
AACPLL Blog: Law Library News 