MD upgrades websites, including Case Search and campaign finance site

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Several of Maryland’s government websites are getting makeovers, including two of the state’s most-used databases.

Gov. Wes Moore on Tuesday unveiled the new version of the state’s flagship website, Maryland.gov, saying the redesign is “more than a facelift.” On Friday, Maryland Judiciary Case Search, the searchable database of state court cases, is getting a new look. Last month, the State Board of Elections rolled out a new campaign finance database.

A press release from Moore states that the new flagship site is built on a “more modern and secure content management system” and has a “stronger foundation of accessibility” to support people with disabilities.

Lawyers will see a bigger change to Case Search than members of the public, who should expect “some upgrades to the user interface,” according to an FAQ posted by the judiciary.

Case Search includes many details of a case — including the parties and their attorneys, the date each document was filed or hearing held, and the disposition of the case — but it does not provide documents. It allows for anonymous searches of public information.

The newly-named Case Search & Record Portal redesigns Case Search and integrates it with the non-public Judiciary Record Search, allowing people with “enhanced access” — lawyers, mostly — to log in and view documents and case information remotely and in one place.

People with standard access who want to look at state court documents will still have to go to a courthouse computer to use a Maryland Electronic Courts, or MDEC, Kiosk. It is free to view documents, but not to obtain copies.

The new portal was created in-house by the Judicial Information Systems office, judiciary spokesman Nick Cavey stated in an email. Case Search averages 1.5 million to 2 million visits per weekday, and 700,000 to 1 million on weekend days, he said.

Meanwhile, in December, the state updated its campaign finance system for the first time in years.

The system allows members of the public to know how much money political candidates and committees raise and spend, where the money comes from and how they spend it. It is important for transparency and accountability for state and local candidates, but the system was finicky and difficult to use.

The new platform “exudes professionalism,” SBE stated in an announcement last month, with features designed to make it easier for political candidates to file reports and enter spending and contribution information, and for members of the public to understand that data.

The homepage includes interactive charts with top-ten lists for fundraising and spending in a certain time period.

The Maryland Digital Service, a division of the Department of Information Technology which Moore established via a 2024 executive order, was involved in the state’s new flagship site and the new digital home of the Attorney General’s Office, which launched in September.

DoIT Chief of Staff Patrick Mulford stated in an email that the department was not involved in the redesigned Case Search or campaign finance sites.

The upgrades do not affect PACER, the federal court records system, where users can review case information and documents remotely. They also do not affect the Federal Election Commission campaign finance site, which offers information on candidates for Congress and the White House.