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Why not ‘none of the above’?
The dissatisfaction that permeates the current political scene is hard to escape. We are bombarded with poll after poll and commentary after commentary that state what is fast becoming a commonplace: The American people are supremely unhappy with the choice that they are almost certainly will be presented with in the presidential election set for this […]
MDEC finally comes to Baltimore
The day that many of us thought never would arrive finally is imminent. Baltimore City is becoming the last jurisdiction to implement electronic filing in its courts. The rollout of Maryland Electronic Courts began in Anne Arundel County in 2014. When Prince George’s County implemented MDEC in October 2022, Baltimore City was the last jurisdiction […]
A rift that serves no one
On April 8, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced his endorsement of mayoral candidate Sheila Dixon. This announcement came after a disagreement and an exchange of words between Bates and current Mayor Brandon Scott. The center of the disagreement essentially boils down to which official’s policies are responsible for Baltimore City’s reduction in crime […]
DEI, Hopkins and why law firms can do better
Earlier this month, it was announced that Dr. Sherita Golden, the chief diversity officer at Johns Hopkins Medicine, had resigned her position after backlash from a hospital newsletter that shared her definition of privilege. In the newsletter, she stated that the concept of privilege is understood as individuals having certain unearned benefits because they belong […]
Welcome to UB Law, Dean Reed
LaVonda N. Reed will become the new dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law beginning July 1. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome UB law’s first woman dean to Baltimore, and we wish her all the best in her new endeavor. Reed is currently the dean of the Georgia State […]
Suspend this judge — now
As The Daily Record reported earlier this month, “an embattled Prince George’s County circuit judge is facing new allegations from Maryland’s judicial discipline commission.” These new disciplinary charges — involving the improper sharing of confidential materials and retaliating against three of her judicial colleagues — come on the heels of findings last month by the […]
Supporting civil legal aid is a good investment
When Gov. Wes Moore announced his 2024 housing package, the connection to the legal community at-large might not have been readily apparent. Yet, within one of the pieces of legislation currently pending before the Maryland General Assembly is a provision that has the capacity to provide sustainable support to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and […]
Let judges punish crimes against animals
Last May the Maryland Sentencing Commission determined that animals do not meet the criteria of “victim” for purposes of applying the multiple victim stacking rule in a criminal event with multiple counts of animal cruelty, each involving a different animal. So, if a dog fighter is caught fighting with 10, 20 or even 50 dogs […]
Avoiding judicial bias
As the Maryland Supreme Court is set to consider a new rule to counsel judges to avoid implicit or actual bias, The Daily Record Editorial Advisory Board commends the proposed rule and encourages its adoption. The proposed rule, part of the report and recommendations from the Maryland Judiciary’s Committee on Equal Justice Rules Review Subcommittee, […]
How not to fill legislative vacancies
Since 1936, legislative vacancies in Maryland have been filled by a Byzantine appointment process where the state central committee of the vacating senator’s or delegate’s party submits a name to the governor for an appointment to fill the vacancy. When vacancies occur early in a term, the appointee is able to serve for up to […]
Maryland state retirees deserve prescription drug benefit
Once again, retired state employees are facing the loss of their state-funded prescription drug benefits unless the General Assembly takes action.
Full disclosure on flood damages
The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that the sale of homes that have been damaged by floods can become financially ruinous to the buyers. This is because a house once damaged is likely to flood again. A requirement that a seller disclose flood damage to a prospective buyer would solve this problem, but Maryland fails […]
