The Judiciary continues to be in direct contact with the Maryland State Bar Association and other state and local bar associations to open the lines of communications since the COVID-19 crisis is so fluid. The Judiciary also emphasized on Thursday that it has been in ongoing communication throughout the past several weeks and months with the Maryland Departments of Health, Juvenile Services, Public Safety and Correctional Services, and General Services, as well as the governor’s legal counsel and the Office of the Attorney General to address issues and coordinate coronavirus response efforts.įrom a conference room in Annapolis, Judiciary leadership answer questions from the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee regarding how the courts have responded to COVID-19 and how the courts intend on reopening in the coming weeks and months.Īt the local level, administrative judges continue to work with justice partners to expand technology to expedite remote hearings as permitted through the administrative orders. “We have seen the plea agreements, sentencings, bail reviews, and uncontested divorces conducted successfully on a remote basis.” “We have learned the value of remote proceedings and plan to apply these lessons to future practices and procedures,” said Chief Judge Barbera. Administrative orders have authorized the expanded use of remote technology for court proceedings to allow for that. As such, the Judiciary has transitioned from in-person hearings to online or remote hearings. All other non-emergency court matters scheduled for a court hearing or proceeding have been, and will continue, to be postponed.
Since March 16, the Maryland state courts have been minimally staffed with essential employees to hear certain emergency court matters, as outlined in the orders, and to answer calls between 8:30 a.m. “They allow courts to perform essential functions, while adhering to the mandates of due process and the rule of law.” “Those orders take into account the actions of the governor, as well as the advice of the federal Centers for Disease Control and the Maryland Department of Health,” said Chief Judge Barbera. On March 13, Chief Judge Barbera also issued another administrative order closing the courts to the public, except for emergency proceedings. Those orders restriced non-essential judicial activities and suspended jury trials.
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“We are also hard at work planning a phased return to full function.”Ĭhief Judge Barbera issued the Judiciary’s first two administrative orders related to COVID-19 on March 12. “The judicial branch, during these unprecedented and challenging times, is carrying out core functions,” said Chief Judge Barbera. Morrissey, District Court of Maryland (back left), Judge Laura Ripken, Administrative Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit and Chair of Conference of Circuit Judges (front right), and Pamela Harris, State Court Administrator (back right).
(Pictured: Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, Maryland Court of Appeals (front left), Chief Judge John P. Maryland Judiciary leadership address the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on the courts amid COVID-19 via Zoom. Morrissey, District Court of Maryland, and Pamela Harris, State Court Administrator briefed the committee on the necessary and appropriate steps the Judiciary has taken since early March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Maryland and how the Judiciary intends on reopening the courts in the weeks and months to come. William Smith, District 20, and Chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.ĭonning facial coverings and sitting six feet apart inside of a conference room in Annapolis, Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, Maryland Court of Appeals, Judge Laura Ripken, Administrative Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit and Chair of Conference of Circuit Judges, Chief Judge John P. “This hearing is a way for us to get a little more of the ground truth of what is actually happening and then some of the innovative ways that our system in responding to the needs to make sure we keep our business going,” said Maryland Sen. – On May 7, top leadership from the Maryland Judiciary participated in a virtual briefing with the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the courts and the criminal justice system.
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