Appointed by Governor: Susan M. Erlichman, Esq.; Katherine Kelly Howard, Esq.; Stephen H. Sachs, Esq.
Appointed by Senate President: Richard S. Madaleno; Robert A. Zirkin; one vacancy.
Appointed by House Speaker: Kathleen M. Dumais; Guy J. Guzzone; Samuel I. Rosenberg.
Appointed by Chief Judge, Court of Appeals: Ben C. Clyburn; Robert R. Neall; Irma S. Raker.
Staff: Pamela C. Ortiz, Esq.
c/o Maryland Access to Justice Commission
Judiciary Education & Conference Center, 2011 E/F Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-1258; fax: (410) 260-3560
e-mail: pamela.ortiz@mdcourts.gov
web: www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc/taskforcecivilcounsel/index.html
In October 2013, the Task Force to Study Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland was authorized (Chapter 35, Acts of 2013).
The Task Force is to study whether low-income Marylanders should have the right to counsel at public expense in cases involving basic human needs, such as shelter, sustenance, safety, health, or child custody. To this end, the Task Force will review and evaluate reports on the civil right to counsel, including the report on this subject by the Maryland Access to Justice Commission. Resources available to assist in providing counsel to low-income Marylanders will be considered and the unmet need assessed, as will the resulting burden on the court system, and the stress on other public resources. Moreover, the Task Force is to consider alternatives to the civil right to counsel for the underserved citizenry of the State, and the operation of the court system.
Authorization for the Task Force ends September 30, 2014.
© Copyright July 21, 2014 Maryland State Archives