Baltimore City District Court recently hosted a visit from Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera. On June 20, she toured five District Court facilities and met with over 250 employees who support one of the Judiciary's busiest operations.
"This was the first time the Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals has simply come to tour our facilities and meet with Judiciary employees. It was a historic opportunity for our Judiciary leadership to recognize the enormous contributions of our court staff, as well as the challenges they face working in less than ideal building conditions," said Baltimore City District Court Administrative Judge Barbara Baer Waxman.
Chief Judge Barbera was accompanied by newly appointed District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrissey, along with other key figures including State Court Administrator Pamela Harris and District Court Chief Clerk Roberta Warnken. The group visited locations such as Borgerding District Court Building and Central Booking Intake Facility.
"They visited everyone. They went to every clerk who was sitting at his or her desk, shook their hand, and asked them their opinions, their feelings, and any suggestions they had," noted Judge Waxman. The visit also included meetings with judges, bailiffs, administrative support personnel, and other employees.
Judge Waxman added that "this visit was an enormous boost for our morale and an acknowledgement from court management that they are truly concerned about the needs of our folks working in the trenches."
During their visit, one topic explored was the implementation of the District Court’s Appointed Attorneys Program set to begin on July 1. This program aims to provide attorney representation to indigent criminal defendants during initial appearances.
"It takes a great deal of effort for the staff to provide service to citizens every day," said Administrative Clerk Mary Abrams. She emphasized how important it was for employees to hear both chief judges discuss everyone's roles in daily court operations.
The Baltimore City District Court handles significant numbers of domestic violence filings and landlord-tenant cases in Maryland. Despite aging infrastructure issues like limited storage space and crowded workspaces, court employees have engaged in creative problem-solving.
"We know that there is much work to be done to make sure that District Court employees have a comfortable, safe, and healthy work environment," stated Chief Judge Morrissey. He highlighted the necessity for providing tools and resources needed by employees.
Chief Judge Barbera expressed her appreciation: "This was a most informative day for me." She acknowledged the hard work performed by public servants despite increasing workloads and challenging conditions.
Visiting state Circuit and District Courts has been a priority for Chief Judge Barbera since her appointment last July by Governor Martin O'Malley.