The Maryland Court of Special Appeals is set to mark its 50th anniversary with a ceremony in the House Chamber of the Maryland State House on January 6, 2017. The event will feature speeches from notable figures including U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (District 5), Governor Larry Hogan, Senate President Mike Miller, House Speaker Mike Busch, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, and Court of Special Appeals Chief Judge Peter B. Krauser.
The court was established following a certification by the Maryland Board of Canvassers on December 6, 1966, confirming that voters had approved a constitutional amendment to create the Court of Special Appeals (Md. Const., Art. IV, Sect. 14A.). The original five judges were sworn in on January 6, 1967. They included Chief Judge Robert C. Murphy and Judges Thomas M. Anderson, James C. Morton Jr., Charles E. Orth Jr., and Charles Audry Thompson.
Initially focused on criminal cases, the court expanded its jurisdiction within ten years to include most appeals from Circuit Courts decisions. This expansion led to an increase in the number of judges from five to thirteen and eventually fifteen.
For more insights into the history and role of the Court of Special Appeals, interested individuals can refer to articles in the January/February issue of the Maryland Bar Journal or visit their official website at http://mdcourts.gov/cosappeals/index.html.