Montgomery County has become the latest and largest jurisdiction in Maryland to implement the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) case management system. This change, effective from October 25, 2021, mandates electronic filing for attorneys representing clients in civil and criminal cases within both the Circuit Court and District Court of Montgomery County. Appellate filings originating from Montgomery County also require electronic submission. Self-represented litigants may continue to file documents manually if they choose.
Chief Judge Joseph M. Getty of the Court of Appeals of Maryland stated, “The Maryland Judiciary continues to improve access to justice through its technology infrastructure and provide innovative ways to serve the public.” He commended those involved for advancing Montgomery County's court services with this new system.
With Montgomery County's inclusion, nearly all jurisdictions in Maryland are now using MDEC, except Baltimore City and Prince George’s County. The ultimate aim is statewide adoption of electronic filing across all courts.
District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrissey highlighted the effort needed for this transition: “It has taken coordination and intensive effort to launch the new system while maintaining full daily operations.” He praised judges and staff for their dedication throughout training and preparation phases.
Judge James A. Bonifant from the Circuit Court emphasized that this move modernizes court processes: “This technology expansion makes the filing process more modern and expedient, while helping the local courts to better serve the public and community.”
Since its initial pilot launch in Anne Arundel County in October 2014, e-filing has been a growing trend among Maryland attorneys. District Administrative Judge Sherri D. Koch expressed pride in joining other state courts: “The District Court in Montgomery County is proud to have its two locations, in Rockville and in Silver Spring, join most other Maryland courts in launching electronic filing.”