The MSBA spearheaded and is fully supportive of legislative efforts to address the patchwork of procedures that currently govern attorney access to District and Circuit Courts in Maryland. The proposed legislation in HB 1009 would allow attorneys, as officers of the court, to either bypass screening OR, as stated in compromise language, be given the opportunity to pass in expedited security lines OR be allowed to get to the head of the awaiting line of entrants. The text of the bill can be found here.

As with the numerous diverse layouts and configurations of airports all across the country, courts in Maryland are unique. However, a state-wide standard, aided by the use of a newly enhanced state-wide Attorney Security Pass issued by the MSBA, should allow all Maryland attorneys to move through security and enter the courthouse more quickly than currently occurs. If a standard can exist for the multitudes of airports, they can for Maryland’s courthouses, too.

Delegate Erek Barron and Senator Chris West, along with co-sponsors Delegate Shoemaker and Delegate Ivey, have proposed bi-partisan legislation for the Attorney Security Pass, in response to concerns raised by MSBA members and local attorneys.

House Bill 1009 – Adjudicatory Hearings – Attorney Security Passes for Attorneys in Good Standing was heard on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, in the House Judiciary Committee, with Past MSBA President Kathy Howard, John Giannetti of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association (MCDAA), Delegate Shoemaker (co-sponsor), and Bruce Plaxen of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), testifying in SUPPORT on behalf of MSBA. Testifying separately was Debra Saltz, also of MCDAA.

Seeking to Collaborate with the Judiciary & Sheriffs; Senate Bill 889

During testimony, Delegates Barron and Shoemaker, Kathy Howard, John Giannetti, and Bruce Plaxen, explained the bill and the MSBA amendments, and addressed concerns raised by the Judiciary and the MD Sheriff’s Association. Additionally, Del. Barron and Kathy Howard expressed the Sponsors’ and MSBA’s willingness to continue to work with the Judiciary and Sheriffs to craft solutions tailored to each individual court facility, as appropriate.

Testifying in opposition to HB 1009 were Chief Judge of the District Court John Morrissey, Judge Laura Ripken, Chair, Conference of Circuit Court Judges & Administrative Judge for the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County, and the Sheriffs of Harford County, Anne Arundel County, and the Deputy Sheriff of Baltimore City. The opposition testimony focused on jurisdictional control differences between courthouses and security considerations, not only for the local court but the surrounding neighborhood.

Despite the opposition, MSBA will continue to advocate for passage of this legislation as an important courthouse access improvement for Maryland attorneys through an Attorney Security Pass.

Senate Bill 889 is set to be heard on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 12:00 p.m., in front of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. MSBA President Dana Williams, Executive Director Victor Velazquez, Director of Legislative Relations Richard Montgomery, along with other prominent members of the MSBA, will be onsite to advocate for the bill.

How You Can Help: MSBA encourages its members to call or write to their local representatives in support of House Bill 1009 and Senate Bill 889.

Contact your local representatives by phone or letter to express your support for House Bill 1009 and Senate Bill 889 and a state-wide Attorney Security Pass. Here is a link to find your representative.

MSBA strongly encourages its members to call or write to members of the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee within the MSBA member’s district. Please ask your representatives to vote to SUPPORT HB 1009 and SB 889:

Visit MSBA.org/advocacy to see all of the ways MSBA is standing up for the legal profession in Annapolis.