The District Court of Maryland has initiated a statewide effort to recruit attorneys for the Appointed Attorneys Program. This initiative aims to provide legal counsel to indigent criminal defendants during their initial appearances before District Court commissioners. Scheduled to begin on July 1, the program offers $50 per hour, plus mileage and tolls, as compensation for participating attorneys.
This recruitment drive follows the DeWolfe v. Richmond opinion by the Maryland Court of Appeals, which affirmed that criminal defendants have a state constitutional right to legal representation when appearing in front of a commissioner. Judge John P. Morrissey, who will become Chief Judge of the District Court on June 1, stated, “The program will provide an indigent defendant the opportunity to speak with an attorney before appearing in front of a commissioner, which will enable the attorney to argue the terms and conditions of the defendant’s release.”
The court anticipates over 153,000 hearings across Maryland requiring attorney staffing. Commissioners operate continuously throughout the year. "This recruitment effort for attorneys will be ongoing to ensure that the District Court has a sufficient number of attorneys present for all initial appearances," said Judge Morrissey. He highlighted this as an opportunity for both seasoned and young attorneys looking to establish or expand their practice.
Eligible attorneys must be licensed in Maryland and meet specific training requirements while maintaining good standing without pending disciplinary actions. They are also required to review rules on initial appearances and complete necessary application forms.
Staffing needs differ by jurisdiction size; larger areas may require multiple attorneys at various times while smaller districts might need limited daily availability. Coordination will occur from District Court Headquarters in Annapolis.
Attorneys can opt for pro bono credit instead of financial compensation by donating their hours. Interested individuals can find more information or apply through www.mdcourts.gov/district/appointedattorneys/index.html or contact via email or phone.