(a) Applicability; Definitions. This Rule applies to decisions of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or either of those Courts under their former names and to the Maryland Rules of Procedure. In this Rule, (1) “decision” means an opinion or order of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or either of those Courts under their former names, (2) “MDEC action” has the meaning stated in Rule 20-101, and (3) the definitions in Code, State Government Article, § 10-1601 shall apply.

Committee note: Code, State Government Article, §§ 10-1601 through 10-1611 deal with “legal material,” which includes the Maryland Rules and reported decisions of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or either of those Courts under their former names. The word “decision” is not defined in the statute. In relevant part, the statute declares the Supreme Court to be the official publisher of the Maryland Rules and reported decisions of the two appellate courts. As such, the statute requires the court to determine whether the official record of those documents is to be the electronic version or the paper version of that legal material, and, if it determines the electronic version to be the official record, to assure the authenticity, preservation, and security of the documents. Because there should be no difference between what constitutes the official record of reported and unreported decisions, this Rule applies to both.

Cross reference: See Rule 8-605.1, concerning designation for reporting of opinions of the Appellate Court.

(b) Maryland Rules. The official record of the Maryland Rules is the paper record maintained by the Clerk of the Supreme Court pursuant to Rule 16-802. The paper or electronic version of a Rule posted on the Judiciary website or contained in a published codification of the Maryland Rules approved by the Supreme Court may be cited in accordance with Rule 1-103 as evidence of the text of the Rule.

Committee note: The Maryland Rules of Procedure maintained by the Clerk of the Supreme Court consists of multiple bound volumes of the Rules Orders issued by the Court, together with the text of the Rules adopted in those Orders. They constitute the most authoritative version of the Rules, as adopted in those Orders. Those volumes do not constitute a code of the Rules, however, but are comparable to the Session Laws enacted by the General Assembly, and, where Rules have been amended or repealed, may not constitute a practical source for determining the current or former version of any particular Rule. That is why the text of a Rule as it appears on the Judiciary website or in published codified form approved by the Supreme Court may be cited as evidence of the Rule. In the event of any dispute regarding the accuracy of the online or codified version, the text of the Rule as it appears in the relevant Rules Order will prevail. Compare Code, Courts Article, § 10-201.