COVID-19 Protocols Are No Longer Used in Maryland Courtrooms

Courtrooms throughout Maryland are removing COVID-19-related limitations as a result of the chief judge’s newest administrative decision.

On Monday, Chief Judge Joseph M. Getty relaxed the Maryland judiciary’s coronavirus guidelines, making the mask requirement voluntary in light of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidance.

“This is the final step in resuming complete judicial operations, but we recognize that we still have more work to do. Our progressive five-phased operations plan proved to be a success and kept the Maryland judiciary operational during some of the most challenging times in our history. I am confident the judiciary is coming out of this pandemic with the experience of implementing innovative technologies to improve access to justice for citizens throughout the state.” – Chief Judge Joseph M. Getty

Chief Judge Getty issued five new administrative orders, all of which revoked earlier orders with similar titles. The Maryland Judiciary’s website, mdcourts.gov/coronavirusorders, contains links to all five new administrative orders.

The new administrative orders include:

• Lifting the COVID-19 Health Emergency as to the Maryland Judiciary
• Final Administrative Order on Jury Trials and Grand Juries During the COVID-19 Emergency
• Final Administrative Order on Emergency Tolling or Suspension of Statutes of Limitations and Statutory and Rules Deadline Related to the Initiation of Matters and Certain Statutory and Rules Deadlines in Pending Matters During the COVID-19 Emergency
• Final Administrative Order on the Suspension During the COVID-19 Emergency of Foreclosures, Evictions, and other Ejectments Involving Residences

The newly issued administrative orders state that remote proceedings are scheduled pursuant to the orders during the health emergency but are now scheduled to take place after the emergency period may take place, and electronic signatures may be used in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City in conjunction with those proceedings.

Furthermore, trial judges who were designated to sit in any Maryland state trial court during the emergency and who sat are designated to continue sitting in those issues until they are finished.