RULE 16-203. ELECTRONIC FILING OF PLEADINGS, PAPERS, AND REAL PROPERTY INSTRUMENTS
West's Annotated Code of MarylandMaryland RulesEffective: April 1, 2023
Effective: April 1, 2023
MD Rules, Rule 16-203
RULE 16-203. ELECTRONIC FILING OF PLEADINGS, PAPERS, AND REAL PROPERTY INSTRUMENTS
(1) General Applicability; MDEC. Except for electronic filings subject to the Rules in Title 20, this Rule applies to the electronic filing of pleadings and papers in a circuit court or in the District Court and to the electronic filing of instruments authorized or required by law to be recorded and indexed in the land records.
(2) Conflicts with Other Rules. A pleading, paper, or instrument may not be filed by direct electronic transmission to a court except in accordance with this Rule or the Rules in Title 20. To the extent of any inconsistency with any other Rule, other than the Rules in Title 20, this Rule and any administrative order entered pursuant to it shall prevail.
Cross reference: Code, Real Property Article, § 3-502.
(1) Circuit Court. A County Administrative Judge may submit to the State Court Administrator a detailed plan for a pilot project for the electronic filing of pleadings and papers or of real property instruments. In developing the plan, the County Administrative Judge shall consult with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, appropriate vendors, the State Court Administrator, and any other judges, court clerks, members of the bar, vendors of electronic filing systems, and interested persons that the County Administrative Judge chooses, to ensure that the criteria set forth in section (c) of this Rule are met.
(2) District Court. The Chief Judge of the District Court may submit to the Supreme Court for approval a detailed plan for a pilot project for the electronic filing of pleadings and papers. In developing the plan, the Chief Judge shall consult with the District Administrative Judge and the District Administrative Clerk of each district included in the plan, the District Court Chief Clerk, appropriate vendors, the State Court Administrator, and any other judges, court clerks, members of the bar, vendors of electronic filing systems, and interested persons that the Chief Judge chooses, to ensure that the criteria set forth in section (c) of this Rule are met.
The State Court Administrator shall review the plan and make a recommendation to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with respect to it.
Cross reference: For the definition of “public record,” see Code, General Provisions Article, § 4-101. See also Rules 16-901-16-934 (Access to Judicial Records).
(d) Approval and Duration of Plan. A plan may not be implemented unless approved by administrative order of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The plan shall terminate two years after the date of the administrative order unless the Chief Justice terminates it earlier or modifies or extends it by a subsequent administrative order.
(e) Evaluation. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may appoint a committee consisting of one or more judges, court clerks, attorneys, legal educators, bar association representatives, and other interested and knowledgeable individuals to monitor and evaluate the plan. Before the expiration of the two-year period set forth in section (d) of this Rule, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, after considering the recommendations of the committee, shall evaluate the operation of the plan.
Credits
[Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. July 1, 2016. Amended June 20, 2017, eff. Aug. 1, 2017; June 29, 2020, eff. Aug. 1, 2020; April 21, 2023, eff. nunc pro tunc April 1, 2023.]
MD Rules, Rule 16-203, MD R CTS J AND ATTYS Rule 16-203
Current with amendments received through February 1, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document |