We have written many editorials over the years regarding the state of Baltimore’s courthouses.  Individual members of the advisory board have discussed the need for a new courthouse and complete rebuilding of the current courthouses with successive governors, mayors, members ...

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Transparency in government. Politicians and officials regularly say they are favor of it, but there remain some surprising limits on such transparency. Take, for example, Maryland’s “broadcast ban” statute. The “ban” prohibits – subject to criminal penalty — recording or ...

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“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done,” writes Brian Stevenson in his book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.” And yet the language we use to identify people convicted of crimes—even in The ...

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Mary Ellen Barbera took over at the helm of Maryland’s judiciary eight years ago, in July, 2013. She has steered it well, and deserves the thanks of all Marylanders for having done so. As her tenure as chief judge of ...

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Many of the members of this Editorial Advisory Board work in Baltimore. And, many of us also live in Baltimore. Regardless of where we live or work, we all care about the city and are very distressed with the ongoing ...

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On the Maryland Lawyers Facebook group a few mornings back, a seasoned criminal defense lawyer complained about a practice he says has been ongoing for 40 years. The state’s attorney is allowed to sit at a trial table in a ...

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During the last week of May, Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed many bills, including multiple measures relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. But one COVID-related bill the governor did not veto, that consequently will become law, is the Maryland Essential Workers’ Protection ...

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The courts are attempting to return to post-pandemic normalcy. On May 24, 2021, Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera issued an administrative order expanding statewide judiciary operations, and on May 27, 2021, Baltimore City Circuit Court Administrative Judge Audrey J. S. ...

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Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming recently has been criticized by some for her job performance. The criticism mostly comes from those who have been, or may be, negatively impacted by the results of her investigations. This Editorial Advisory Board ...

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Many people concerned about gun violence want more restrictions on firearms possession. Recent shootings have some pushing to restrict the ownership of AR-type rifles; some want to require that the transfer of any gun occur only through a federal firearms ...

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