MARYLAND JUDICIAL CONFERENCE

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

The Conference consists of all judges of the Court of Appeals, the Court of Special Appeals, the Circuit Courts, and the District Court of Maryland. The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals serves as chair, and the State Court Administrator as executive secretary. Annually, the Conference meets in plenary session (Maryland Rule 16-802).

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. 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

Between annual sessions, work of the Judicial Conference is conducted by the Judicial Council and a number of committees, as established by the Council in consultation with the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals (Maryland Rule 16-802). Conference committees receive staff support from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

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 to two-year terms as members 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.

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

CIVIL LAW & PROCEDURE COMMITTEE
The Civil Law and Procedure Committee was formed by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference.

COURT INTERPRETATION & TRANSLATION SERVICES COMMITTEE
Initially, the Court Interpretation and Translation Services Committee was established by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals in 2002. Also known as the Court Interpreters Committee, the Committee was reestablished by Administrative Order of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals on October 18, 2012.

The Committee's primary responsiblity is to advise Court Interpreter Services of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Nine judges are appointed to the Committee by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, who also designates the Chair and Vice-Chair.

CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE COMMITTEE
The Criminal Law and Procedure Committee was authorized by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference.

FAMILY LAW COMMITTEE
The Family and Domestic Relations Law Committee 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.

JUDICIAL COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Judicial Compensation Committee was begun by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference.

MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOLISM & ADDICTION COMMITTEE
The Mental Health, Alcoholism and Addiction Committee was initiated by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference.

PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS 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). 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. The Committee is to establish a program of continuing performance evaluation for all such courts. In addition, the Committee is to review all requests to establish problem-solving courts and advise the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals on such matters. The Committee also will serve as the Judiciary's clearinghouse for grants relating to these courts.

The Committee is assisted by the Drug Treatment Court Oversight Committee, and the Mental Health Oversight Committee.

PUBLIC AWARENESS COMMITTEE
The Public Awareness Committee was started by the Executive Committee of the Maryland Judicial Conference.

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