NCJ Number
204917
Date Published
2003
Length
102 pages
Annotation
This document provides a descriptive, statistical, and graphical presentation of the work product of the Maryland Judiciary over the fiscal year of 2003.
Abstract
There were 965 dispositions recorded by the Court of Appeals, compared to the fiscal year 1999 total of 937, representing an increase of approximately 3 percent over the 5-year period. Contributing most significantly to the increase was a nearly 45 percent rise in the number of attorney grievance dispositions, from 56 in fiscal year 1999, to the current total of 81. During fiscal year 2003, 1,960 appeals were filed in the Court of Special Appeals, while 1,901 were disposed. Since 1999, appeals filed increased less than 1 percent. Dispositions also increased slightly during the 5-year period, rising approximately 2 percent. One highlight of 2003 in the circuit courts was the installation of ELROI (Electronic Land Record Optical Imagery) in Washington and Frederick counties. The ELROI system images records 10 years back. Between 2001 and 2003, the circuit courts experienced a decrease of approximately 3.2 percent in filing activity. Contributing to the reported decline in filing activity were decreases reported by three of the five larger jurisdictions. The greatest decrease was reported by Baltimore City. The highlights of 2003 in the district courts included the implementation of E-filing, the Intranet system, improved small claims process, and digital recording savings. The District Court experienced an overall increase in case filings of 4.6 percent over the previous fiscal year. The District Court observed a slight drop in criminal case filings between 2002 and 2003.The improvements in judicial administration included the Department of Family Administration, the Drug Treatment Court Commission, the Human Resources Department, and judicial information systems.