MARYLAND JUDICIAL CONFERENCE

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

Maryland Judicial Center, 580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, Maryland, April 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Maryland Judicial Center, 580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, Maryland, January 2001. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

JUDICIAL CABINET
Formed in 2000 by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the Judicial Cabinet advises the Chief Judge on governing the Judicial Branch of Maryland government. It considers judicial policy and serves as a forum for maintaining communication among the judicial leadership.

The Cabinet's members include the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the Chief Judge of the Court of Special Appeals, the Chair of the Conference of Circuit Judges, the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland, and the State Court Administrator.

JUDICIAL INSTITUTE OF MARYLAND
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
c/o Judicial Training Center, 2009 D Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401

In 1981, the Judicial Institute of Maryland was established by Administrative Order of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. The Institute develops, provides, and evaluates comprehensive, diverse and cost-effective continuing legal education for the judges of Maryland. It is responsible to the Maryland Judicial Conference for all judicial education and training.

The Institute is governed by the fifteen-member Board of Directors, appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. While the chair and retired judge member serve at the pleasure of the Chief Judge, the Board's other members serve two-year terms. The Board names the Executive Director and Deputy Director (Administrative Order of June 30, 2011; Maryland Rules 18-601).

JUDICIAL COUNCIL

Maryland Judicial Center, 580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, Maryland, January 2001. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Council consists of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the Chief Judge of the Court of Special Appeals, the Chair of the Conference of Circuit Judges, the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland, the State Court Administrator, the Chair of the Conference of Circuit Court Clerks, and the Chief Clerk of the District Court. An additional four Circuit Court judges and four District Court judges as well as a court administrator, are appointed as members to two-year terms by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, in consultation with the Chair of the Conference of Circuit Judges, the Chief Judge of the District Court, and the Chair of the Conference of Court Administrators.

JUDICIAL ETHICS COMMITTEE
The Judicial Ethics Committee was initiated by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
In January 2015, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee was organized. Throughout Maryland's judicial system, the Committee promotes the use of alternative dispute resolution processes. Further, it reviews existing rules and makes recommendations for changes; monitors pending legislation that potentially would impact dispute resolution programs and services; oversees the development of such programs and services; and sets standards of conduct for professional mediators.

Supporting the Committee's work is the District Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Subcommittee.

DISTRICT COURT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SUBCOMMITTEE

COURT ACCESS & COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
The Court Access and Community Relations Committee began as the Public Awareness Committee, which was started by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference. In January 2015, the Public Awareness Committee reorganized as the Court Access and Community Relations Committee.

Three subcommittees aid the Committee. They are concerned with Community Relations, Language Access, and Self-Represented Litigant.

COURT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
The Court Operations Committee was established in January 2015. Under the Committee's purview are all matters concerning the efficient operation of the courts. The Committee works to develop consistent statewide operational policy and to implement known best practices.

Under the Committee are four subcommittees: Case Management; Courthouse Equity; Forms; and Jury Use and Management; and the Court Reporting Work Group.

CASE MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

COURT REPORTING WORK GROUP

COURTHOUSE EQUITY SUBCOMMITTEE

FORMS SUBCOMMITTEE

JURY USE & MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

COURT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
In January 2015, the Court Technology Committee was created.

Under the Committee are two subgroups: the Major Project Executive Steering Subcommittee, and the Records Retention Work Group.

DISTRICT COURT CHIEF JUDGE'S COMMITTEE
The District Court Chief Judge's Committee was organized in January 2015.

Three subgroups assist the Committee: the Chief Clerk's Subcommittee, the Civil and Domestic Work Group, and the Criminal and Traffic Work Group.

DOMESTIC LAW COMMITTEE
The Domestic Law Committee originated as the Family and Domestic Relations Law Committee, which was started by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference. In September 2001, the Committee reorganized with the Child Support Enforcement Committee, and the Juvenile Law Committee to form the Family Law Committee. In January 2015, the Family Law Committee was renamed the Domestic Law Committee.

The Domestic Violence and Peace Order Subcommittee assists the Committee.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The Education Committee was formed in January 2015.

Four subcommittees aid the Committee. They are concerned with Commissioner Education, Judicial Institute, Professional Development, and Professionalism.

JUVENILE LAW COMMITTEE
In January 2015, the Juvenile Law Committee was organized.

Under the Committee are two subcommittees: Foster Care Court Improvement Program; and Juvenile Justice.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
The Legislative Committee was organized by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference.

The Committee is aided by two subcommittees: Civil Law, and Criminal Law.

CIVIL LAW SUBCOMMITTEE

CRIMINAL LAW SUBCOMMITTEE

RETIRED & RECALLED JUDGES COMMITTEE
In January 2015, the Retired and Recalled Judges Committee was initiated.

Under the Committee is the Legislative Subcommittee.

LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

SPECIALTY COURTS & DOCKETS COMMITTEE
In December 2006, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals by administrative order created the Problem-Solving Courts Committee (Administrative Order of Dec. 21, 2006). In January 2015, the Committee reformed as the Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee.

The Committee is assisted by three subcommittees: Business and Technology Case Management; Mental Health, Alcoholism, and Addiction; and Problem-Solving Courts.

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY CASE MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
Under the Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee, the Business and Technology Case Management Subcommittee was organized in January 2015.

MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOLISM, & ADDICTION SUBCOMMITTEE
The Mental Health, Alcoholism and Addiction Committee was initiated by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference. In January 2015, it reformed as a subcommittee of the Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee.

PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS SUBCOMMITTEE
Problem-solving courts are those appointed within a circuit court by the Circuit Administrative Judge to deal with problems that continually give rise to criminal charges brought before the court. A program of continuing performance evaluation for all such courts has been established by the Problem-Solving Committee. Its functions were assigned to the Problem-Solving Courts Subcommittee formed in January 2015.

The Subcommittee reviews all requests to establish problem-solving courts, and advises the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals on such matters. The Subcommittee also serves as the Judiciary's clearinghouse for grants relating to these courts.

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