COURT OF APPEALS

STANDING COMMITTEE ON RULES OF PRACTICE & PROCEDURE

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

The rules that govern the practice and procedure of law and judicial administration in Maryland are made by the Court of Appeals. The Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure assists the Court in developing these rules.

Procedural rules, also known as court rules, guide the litigant, who usually is represented by an attorney, on how to proceed when bringing a legal dispute into a State or federal court in Maryland. These mandatory rules, which have the force of law, establish a uniform process for trying cases to ensure that justice is administered fairly. Maryland Rules are accessible on the web, and in the reference section of Maryland public libraries.

Appointed by the Court of Appeals, Committee members serve three-year terms. They include lawyers, judges, and others competent in judicial practice, procedures, or administration. A Senator nominated by the Senate President and a delegate nominated by the Speaker of the House of Delegates also serve on the Committee (Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, secs. 13-301 through 13-303; Maryland Rule 16-801).

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