Beginning August 3, 2015, attorneys in Anne Arundel County will file criminal and traffic cases online as part of the Maryland Judiciary's expansion of its Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) initiative. This system aims to streamline court processes and make case filing more convenient.
Since October 2014, attorneys have been using electronic filing for civil cases in Anne Arundel County under a pilot program. Initially, mandatory e-filing was limited to civil cases in the District Court and Circuit Court, as well as appellate civil filings at the Court of Special Appeals and the Court of Appeals for cases originating in Anne Arundel County. The recent expansion now includes criminal and traffic cases.
"The Maryland Judiciary is forward thinking. We focus continuously on improving our systems," stated Mary Ellen Barbera, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. "We are working to modernize the way we manage our court records. MDEC is helping us to eliminate our reliance on paper files, improve the transfer of records as cases progress through the system, and make our courts more accessible to litigants."
From August 3 onward, paper filings from attorneys will no longer be accepted in Anne Arundel County's District Court, Circuit Court, the Court of Special Appeals, and the Court of Appeals. However, Maryland Rule 20-106(b) outlines circumstances where individuals may be excused from e-filing requirements. Nonpayment of rent cases filed under Maryland Code, Real Property Section 8-401 remain exempt from mandatory electronic filing until further notice.
To prepare attorneys for this transition to e-filing, the Maryland Judiciary has hosted preview sessions earlier this summer along with informational emails, webinars, and online video tutorials. Additional information about MDEC and e-filing can be found on their website: http://mdcourts.gov/mdec/index.html and http://mdcourts.gov/mdec/efiling.html.