Md. Admin. Order of 2016-12-16 (Hours of Operation)

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON

HOURS OF OPERATION

WHEREAS, Access to justice is fundamental to a demo cracy based upon the rule

of law; and

WHEREAS, Access to justice must include logistical accessibility by those seeking

to complete transactions or obtain services in the courthouses and judicial facilities of

Maryland; and

WHEREAS, The time of court users, many of whom mus t take unpaid leave to

conduct important business at the courthouse, is valuable; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate and necessary to establ ish a minimum level of

accessibility to the courthouses and other facilities of the Judicial Branch of Maryland:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mary Ellen Barbera, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals

and administrative head of the Judicial Branch, pur suant to the authority conferred by

Article IV, § 18 of the Maryland Constitution, do h ereby order this 16th day of December

2016 that courthouses and other facilities of the Judicial Branch of Maryland shall be open

for operations no later than 8:00 AM and shall close no earlier than 5:00 PM every day the

courts are open; and

All court services not otherwise contractually limi ted to other hours and court

business offices must be available to the public to conduct business and obtain services no

later than 8:30 AM up to and until 4:30 PM; and

Staff shall be scheduled so that offices are ready to conduct business with the public

promptly at 8:30 AM and, further, end-of-day record-keeping and reconciliation are

performed after 4:30 PM; and

Any courthouse or facility of the Judicial Branch of Maryland unable to provide the

service level required by this Order shall document the circumstances preventing

fulfillment of this Order and provide the State Cou rt Administrator with a plan for hours

of service; and

The State Court Administrator shall forward the rep ort and plan, along with any

recommendations, to the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for approval; and

This Order shall not be construed to prevent jurisd ictions able to expand hours of

operation, including provision of services to the public, beyond 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM from

doing so.

/s/ Mary Ellen Barbera

Mary Ellen Barbera

Chief Judge

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Filed: December 16, 2016

/s/ Bessie M. Decker

Bessie M. Decker

Clerk

Court of Appeals of Maryland