The Maryland Judiciary has expanded its electronic case filing system, known as the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC), to Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. This move makes electronic filing mandatory for attorneys handling civil and criminal cases in these areas' District and Circuit Courts and any appellate filings originating there.
Maryland attorneys have been using electronic filing since October 2014 when MDEC was first introduced as a pilot program in Anne Arundel County. The expansion aims to transition from traditional paper-based processes to a technology-driven system, modernizing court operations and improving convenience for litigants.
With this recent launch in Western Maryland, over 70 percent of jurisdictions in the state are now utilizing the electronic case management system. The Judiciary is working towards implementing MDEC across all courts by 2021.
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, Mary Ellen Barbera, stated, “The Maryland Judiciary is making great strides in bringing case management and electronic filing to all Maryland state courts in order to improve services for the people of Maryland.” She praised the commitment and hard work of Judiciary members in Western Maryland during the implementation process.
John P. Morrissey, Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland, noted that extensive training and preparation resulted in a smooth transition to the new system. W. Timothy Finan, Fourth Circuit Administrative Judge for Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties expressed pride in contributing to modernizing records systems.
Julie Stevenson Solt from Frederick County emphasized thorough preparation by judges and staff facilitated an easy transition due to prior experiences shared by colleagues who had already implemented MDEC. O. John Cejka Jr., District 11 Administrative Judge for Frederick and Washington counties remarked on the reduction of reliance on paper files and improved record transfers as cases progress through the system.
H. Jack Price Jr., District 12 Administrative Judge for Allegany and Garrett counties highlighted behind-the-scenes technical preparations leading to significant improvements in case management capabilities.
Paper filings will no longer be accepted from attorneys where MDEC is operational unless exempted under specific conditions outlined by Maryland Rule 20-106(b). Nonpayment of rent cases remain exempt until further notice.
Informational events were held along with online resources to guide attorneys on registering and using the new e-filing system. The Judiciary website provides additional information about MDEC along with registration instructions for webinars and training sessions available to registered attorneys.
As of October 16th, MDEC is active in multiple counties including Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert among others with future launches planned for Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties on April 16th next year.