MSBA’s Director of Legislative Relations, Richard Montgomery, spoke with Michael Pedone, Counsel to Governor Hogan on Tuesday (3/31) afternoon. During that conversation, Mr. Pedone stated that, under the Order/Interpretive Guidance, law firms / legal organizations, which are essential under the Order MAY issue credentials to lawyers who are employees, but Essential Employee documentation is not necessary.

Mr. Pedone also stated that the Administration has been working closely with law enforcement, and that it would be highly unlikely that a police officer would pull over a driver, or stop an individual walking for suspicion that they are not an “essential employee.” He stated that traffic stops, even of someone who wasn’t an essential employee, and was not conducting emergency out-of-home business, would be treated as a “teaching moment” where the individual would be given a COVID-19 educational flyer.