Md. Admin. Order of 2022-04-27 (Pilot Project on Landlord and Tenant Electronic ...)

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON A PILOT PROJECT ON LANDLORD AND TENANT

ELECTRONIC FILING IN FAILURE TO PAY RENT MATTERS IN THE DISTRICT

COURT OF MARYLAND IN BALTIMORE COUNTY

WHEREAS, The Maryland Judiciary is considering the use of mandatory electronic

filing as a more efficient means of filing for failure to pay rent cases; and

WHEREAS, Electronic filing is an essential aspect of the Maryland Electronic

Courts project (MDEC) so that filings can be transmitted to the court and so that documents

and data are received into the MDEC System more effectively and accurately; and

WHEREAS, The electronic filing of failure to pay rent cases will improve court

process efficiencies; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable that a pilot project be established to determine the

efficacy of the use of electronic filing in failure to pay rent cases; and

WHEREAS, Once a pilot project is implemented and its outcomes evaluated, the

viability of mandatory electronic filing in all failure to pay rent cases by all filers in MDEC

jurisdictions may be determined,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Matthew J. Fader, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and

administrative head of the Judicial Branch, pursuant to the authority conferred by Article

IV, § 18 of the Maryland Constitution, do hereby order this 27th day of April 2022:

(a) The Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland is hereby autho rized to

implement, effective June 6, 2022, a Pilot Project on Failure to Pay Rent

Electronic Filing (“Pilot Project”) in the District Court of Maryland in Baltimore

County, which shall be conducted for at least four (4) months, absent exigent

circumstances requiring a change in the design or duration; and

(b) Further, the outcomes of the Pilot Project are to be evaluated by the District

Court Headquarters, in coordination with the Major Projects Committee, with

recommendations as to the efficacy of the Pilot Project and the viability of

mandatory electronic filing in failure to pay rent cases for all filers in all MDEC

jurisdictions; and

(c) Further, once the viability of the Pilot Project is determined, the Chief Judge of

the District Court is authorized to implement mandatory electronic filing for

failure to pay rent cases in MDEC jurisdictions in phases as follows:

i. The District Court of Maryland in Baltimore County;

ii. The District Court of Maryland in Prince George’s County as a part of its

implementation of MDEC;

iii. The remaining District Courts already utilizing MDEC, after a reasonable

amount of time has passed from the Prince George’s County MDEC

implementation, but not less than three (3) months after implementation,

so as to ensure sufficient allocation of resources; and

iv. The District Court in Baltimore City as part of its implementation of

MDEC; and

(d) This Order shall be rescinded upon the completion of section (c) without further

Order of this Court.

/s/ Matthew J. Fader

Matthew J. Fader

Chief Judge

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Filed: April 27, 2022

Pursuant to Maryland Uniform Electronic Legal

Materials Act

(§§ 10-1601 et seq. of the State Government Article) this document is authentic.

/s/ Suzanne C. Johnson 2022-04-27 09:53-04:00

Suzanne C. Johnson

Clerk

Court of Appeals of Maryland Suzanne C. Johnson, Clerk