3 . \ ""£ " D D D RJ mm ^.J Ui © Q\ MMLYlMm JUBIQAMWJ ANNUAL REPORT of the MARYLAND JUDICIARY 1983-1984 Administrative Office of the Courts Courts of Appeal Building Post Office Box 431 Annapolis, Maryland 21404 301/269-2141 I m RECEIVED nuv zOiybb LAW L!3RA,JvY 7TH CIRCUIT UUURf-LlbKArtii u&MJia uibK. PRINQ&fiEORGFS mUWPf COVER PHOTOGRAPHS 1. District Court Multi-Service Center—Catonsville, Baltimore County 2. The District Court Building—Annapolis, Anne Arundel County 3. District Court Multi-Service Center—Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County 4. District Court Multi-Service Center—Denton, Caroline County 5. District Court Multi-Service Center—Essex, Baltimore County 6. Multi-Service Courthouse Complex—Frederick, Frederick County I 7. District Court Multi-Service Center—Bel Air, Harford County 8. District Court Multi-Service Center—Ellicott City, Howard County 9. The Court Annex Building—Westminster, Carroll County 10. District Court Multi-Service Center—Elkton, Cecil County 11. District Court Multi-Service Center—Centreville, Queen Anne's County LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS Page 1 District Court Multi-Service Center, Ellicott City, Howard County 3 Multi-Service Courthouse Complex, Frederick, Frederick County 8 District Court Multi-Service Center, Bel Air, Harford County 15 District Court Multi-Service Center, Ellicott City, Howard County 16 District Court Multi-Service Center, Elkton, Cecil County 16 District Court Building, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County 17 District Court Multi-Service Center, Denton, Caroline County 18 District Court Multi-Service Center, Centreville, Queen Anne's County 20 Multi-Service Courthouse Complex, Frederick, Frederick County 23 District Court Multi-Service Center, Essex, Baltimore County 25 District Court Multi-Service Center, Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County 25 The Court Annex Building, Westminster, Carroll County 29 Multi-Service Courthouse Complex, Frederick, Frederick County 31 District Court Multi-Service Center, Elkton, Cecil County Report prepared by the Administrative Office of the Courts Editor—Deborah AJ Unitus Photographs by the Honorable1 Thomas J. Curley Contents Letter of Transmittal iv Introduction v Judicial Revenues and Expenditures 1 The Maryland Courts 4 The Court of Appeals 4 The Court of Special Appeals 5 The Circuit Courts 6 The District Court 9 Trends 10 Judicial Administration 12 Administrative Office of the Courts . : 12 Judicial Education and Information Services 13 Judicial Information Systems 13 Judicial Special Projects, Research and Planning Services 14 Judicial Administrative Services 15 Judicial Personnel Services 15 Sentencing Guidelines Project 15 Liaison with the Legislative and Executive Branches 16 Circuit Court Administration 16 District Court Administration 16 Assignment of Judges 18 Court-Related Units 19 Board of Law Examiners 19 Rules Committee 20 State Law Library 21 Attorney Grievance Commission 21 Clients' Security Trust Fund 22 Judicial Conferences 23 The Maryland Judicial Conference 23 Conference of Circuit Judges 23 Administrative Judges Committee of the District Court 25 Appointment, Discipline, and Removal of Judges 26 Judicial Nominating Commissions 26 Removal and Discipline of Judges 28 The Commission on Judicial Disabilities . 28 1984 Legislation Affecting the Courts 30 Judicial Maps and Members of the Judiciary 32 Letter of Ttansmittal ADMINISTRATIVK OFKICK OF THE COURTS COURTS OK APPKAI. BUILIIINC ANNAPOLIS. MAKYLAM) 21401 2h<4-2l4l September 25, 1984 It is a pleasure to present the eighth Annual fleport 0/ the Maryiand Judiciary, which includes the twenty- ninth Annual Report of the Administrative Office of the Courts, as required by §13-101 (d)(9) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article. The report covers fiscal 1984, beginning July 1,1983 and ending June 30, 1984. I The report is in two volumes. Volume 1 treats the funding, functions, workload, and prpgrams of the court system in overview fashion, highlighted by graphics. It is intended for broad general circulation to the judiciary and other governmental officials and employees and to the citizens of the State interested in Maryland's judicial system. Volume 2 is a statistical abstract designed more for the analyst, clerk, or court administrator. This volume contains data providing detailed support for much of the material in volume 1. The statistics on which much of the report is based have been provided through the fine efforts of the clerks of the circuit courts for the, counties and Baltimore City and the clerks of the District Court of Maryland. I take this opportunity of publicly acknowledging the invaluable assistance of all who have contributed to the preparation of this report. I hope this report on the judicial branch will provide useful information to the citizens of Maryland, as well as to those directly concerned in the activities of the court system. au»nu\ H- \o"^ James H. Norris, Jr. State Court Administrator Introduction The eighth Annual Report of the Maryland Judiciary, as in past reports, outlines the functions and respon- sibihties of the judicial department of Maryland. It also presents an accounting of the work of the judiciary for the period July 1,1983—June 30,1984. The report por- trays a judicial system striving, both effectively and efficiently, to cope with massive caseloads while never losing sight of the primary commitment to individual justice by resolving disputes in a fair and expeditious manner. I am pleased to present this report on behalf of all the judges and the supporting staff of the courts. I am hopeful that a reading of the report will encourage members of other branches of government, as well as the public in general, to gain a better understanding of the judicial department and to join with us in our continuing efforts for a fully effective justice system. Robert C. Murphy Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland THE MARYLAND JUDICIAL SYSTEM COURT OF APPEALS I Chief Judge and I 6 associates COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS Chief Judge and 12 associates Cl RCUI T COURT s ___ ___ I 1 1 FIRST C IRCUIT SECOND CIRCUIT THIRD C RCUIT FOURTH C IRCUIT FIFTH :IR ;UIT SIXTH CIRCUIT SEVENTH CIRCUIT EIGHTH CIRCUIT Dorch ester Caro ine Baltintore Allega ny Anne / \ru idel Frederick Calvert Baltimore City Somf rset Ce :il Hart ird Garrs tt Ca rol Montgomery Charles Wico mico Ke nt Washin gton Hovvar I Prince George's Wore ester Queen ;\nne's St. Mary's Tal )0t (6 Judges) (6 Judges) (16Judges) (6 Judges) (15 Judges) (14 Judges) (18 Judges) (23 Judges) ORPHANS' COURTS All political subdivisions except Harford and Montgomery Counties THE DISTRICT COURT CHIEF JUDGE 1 I I I DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT 8 DISTRICT 9 DISTRICT 10 DISTRICT 11 DISTRICT 12 Baltimore City Dorchester Caroline Calvert Prince George's Montgomery Anne Arundel Baltimore Harford Carroll Frederick Allegany Somerset Cecil Charles Howard Washington Garrett Wicomico Kent St. Mary's Worcester Queen Anne's Talbot (22 Judges) | (4 Judges) (6 Judges) i (3 Judges) (9 Judges) (10 Judges) (6 Judges; (12 Judges) (3 Judges) (5 Judges) (4 Judges) (3 Judges) Judicial Revenues and Expenditures State and local costs to support the operations of the ments paid by lawyers entitled to practice law in Mary- judicial branch of government in Maryland were ap- land. These supporting funds are not included in the proximately $83 million in fiscal 1984. The judicial judicial budget. branch consists of the Court of Appeals; the Court of The figures in the table show the state-funded Special Appeals; the circuit courts, including the Cir- judicial revenues and expenditures for fiscal 1984. The cuit Court for Baltimore City; the District Court of court-related revenue of $33,060,855 is remitted to the Maryland; the clerks' offices and headquarters of State's general fund and cannot be used to offset these several courts; the Administrative Office of the expenditures. Courts; the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice The total state budget was $6.5 billion in fiscal and Procedure of the Court of Appeals; the State Board 1984. The illustration reflects that the state-funded of Law Examiners; the Maryland State Law Library; judicial budget consumes but a tiny fraction of the en- the Commission on Judicial Disabilities; the Clients' tire state budget, approximately six-tenths of one Security Trust Fund; and the Attorney Greivance Com- percent. mission. There are 217 judicial positions as of July 1, Operating costs for the clerks' offices of the cir- 1984 and approximately 2,800 nonjudicial positions in cuit courts are paid from filing fees, court costs, and the judicial branch. commissions collected by these offices. Any deficiency The state-funded judiciary budget operates on a is paid by the State from a fund maintained by the State program budget concept and expended $38,166,652 in Comptroller and from a general fund appropriation. the twelve-month period ending June 30, 1984. The two Expenses for fiscal 1984 were approximately appellate courts and the clerks' offices are funded by $25,208,592. Fees, costs and commissions totaled two programs. Another program pays the salaries and $23,923,296, resulting in the net deficiency of official travel costs for the circuit court judges. The $1,285,296. Seven of the 24 clerks' offices ended the largest program is the state-funded District Court year with a surplus, but this reverts to the general fund which expended $23,221,577, but brought in general and cannot be used to offset deficits occurring in other revenue of $32,714,383 in fiscal 1984. The Maryland offices. The net deficiency figure includes the surplus Judicial Conference contains funds for continuing counties. However, the gross deficiency before judicial education and conference activities. Remain- subtracting any surplus was approximately $4,461,758 ing programs provide funds for the Administrative Of- in fiscal 1984. Contributing partly to the size of the fice of the Courts, the Maryland State Law Library, deficiency is the newly created Circuit Court for the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Pro- Baltimore City.