#MARYLAND JUDICIARY CASE MD CASE SEARCH CODE#

After being recalled pursuant to Maryland Constitution, Article IV, Section 3A, he also participated in the decision and adoption of this opinion. Johnson, Clerk *Getty, C.J., now a Senior Judge, participated in the hearing and conference of this case while an active member of this Court. of the State Government Article) this document is authentic. Filed: JPursuant to Maryland Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act (§§ 10-1601 et seq. (Senior Judge, Specially Assigned) McDonald, Robert N. ABELL FOUNDATION *Getty, C.J., Watts Hotten Booth Biran, Harrell, Glenn T., Jr.

48 September Term, 2021 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS, ET AL. 24-C-18-005684 Argument: ApIN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND No.

Circuit Court for Baltimore City Case No.

#MARYLAND JUDICIARY CASE MD CASE SEARCH CODE#

The code key that matches the alphanumeric codes to judges on that court is disclosable in response to a public records request and is not exempt from disclosure under an exception for certain administrative records. While the identity of the judge who presided in a case or decided a matter – which is clearly disclosable under the PIA and Access Rules – appears generally in records of case events in Case Search, the names of judges on the District Court in Baltimore City are indicated only by an alphanumeric code. Consistent with the principle of openness of case records and the policy of ready public access to records that are clearly disclosable, the Maryland Judiciary has developed an online database known as Case Search that makes available to the public basic information about filings and proceedings in cases in Maryland courts. The Court of Appeals has adopted rules governing access to judicial records, including case records and administrative records, that reflect the longstanding principle of the openness of case records and generally treat administrative records in a way similar to the treatment of Executive Branch records under the PIA. In the Maryland Public Information Act (“PIA”), the General Assembly has established a policy that public records that are clearly disclosable should be made available for public inspection without unnecessary cost or delay. An important common law principle provides that court proceedings and records are presumptively open to the public. 48, September Term 2021 Maryland Public Information Act – Rules on Access to Court Records – Administrative Records – Code Key for Public Access Database. The Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that the code key is disclosable in response to public records requests and is not exempt from disclosure under the Maryland Rules.Īdministrative Office of the Courts, et al. The lower courts concluded that the exception does not apply to the code key. Specifically in question was the whether the record containing the code key given to clerks who enter information from paper records into the digital database that assigns each judge a code falls under the exception from public access in the Maryland Rules.

For cases in the District Court sitting in Baltimore City, the judge who presided over the particular proceeding is identified in Case Search but only by an alphanumeric code. The Court of Appeals affirmed the conclusions of the circuit court and court of special appeals that the 'code key that matches alphanumeric codes in Case Search to the judges on the District Court in Baltimore City' was disclosable to the public and was not exempt from disclosure under the Maryland Rules.Īt issue was Case Search, an online database overseen by The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) that provides public access to information about court proceedings and records that are open to the public.

Maryland judiciary case md case search