Md. Admin. Order of 2022-07-08 (Access to the Robert C. Murphy Courts ...)

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON ACCESS TO THE

ROBERT C. MURPHY COURTS OF APPEAL BUILDING

WHEREAS, the safety of all people who enter the Robert C. Murphy Courts of

Appeal Building, including staff and visitors, is of paramount importance; and

WHEREAS, increasing levels of violence, including toward members of the

judiciary, have heightened the importance of following best practices in security for

sensitive places like courthouses,

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 this 8th day of July, 2022, order as follows:

(1) All individuals who enter the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building

during normal business hours, whether through the front entrance or the

employee/delivery entrance, shall be subject to security screening protocols established

by the Office of Security Administration of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Individuals who do not comply with screening protocols shall be denied entrance to the

courthouse.

(2) The Office of Security Administration shall coordinate with the Clerks of

the Court of Appeals and the Court of Special Appeals and the Director of the Thurgood

Marshall State Law Library to ensure that adequate security personnel are assigned to the

Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building, based on expected volume of visitors, so

that security screening does not unduly delay entrance to the building.

(3) Firearms or other weapons of any kind are not permitted within the Robert

C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building unless carried by law enforcement officers

entering the building in performance of their official duties. Any weapons identified

during screening or at any other time, except those carried by a law enforcement officer

in the exercise of their official duties, shall be impounded and retained for use as

evidence, and may be forfeited, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with

law. Any person unlawfully carrying weapons within the Robert C. Murphy Courts of

Appeals Building is subject to criminal prosecution.

/s/ Matthew J. Fader

Matthew J. Fader

Chief Judge

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Pursuant to Maryland Uniform Electronic Legal

Filed: July 8, 2022 Materials Act

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

2022-07-08

/s/ Suzanne C. Johnson 09:21-04:00

Suzanne C. Johnson

Clerk

Court of Appeals of Maryland Suzanne C. Johnson, Clerk