It's clear my next post is a long one...

My next Rule is about Maryland Rule 1-201 - the rules of construction.  In essence, the Rule states that the existence of the Rules is to do justice, and to be equitable.  That there is a purposed to these Rules.  Mind you, I've never actually relied on this Rule in motions - though I have called upon it in when arguing about the construction of a Rule (usually begging for wiggle room for my client) and in appellate practice.  I've been reading all the cases in the annotation citing this Rule - and it's been fascinating so far.  Essentially, this Rule is a gut feeling rule - if the Rules aren't doing justice, they aren't doing their job.

Suffice to say, I'm about to post on another recent case instead.

Shelton v. Maryland

On September 5, 2012, the Court of Special Appeals filed its opinion, by Judge Wright, in Shelton v. Maryland, No. 1240, September Term 2011.  The case arises from an undercover drug sting that resulted in Mr. Shelton's conviction  on one count of distributing a controlled dangerous substance, one count of conspiring to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and one count of first-degree assault. But this isn't a criminal law blog, this is a blog about the Rules.  Of course Mr. Shelton appealed - and as any first year law student knows, appeals are about error.  As Judge Wright stated, Mr. Shelton asked the Court of Special Appeals to determine 

Did the trial court err in admitting a hearsay statement under Maryland Rule 5-803(a)(5), the co-conspirator exception, because the statements of the accomplice were not made in furtherance of the conspiracy? 

In this case, the defendant and the State were arguing over a recording taken by the undercover cop of his conversation with the woman who allegedly set up the sale while he was waiting for the sale to happen.  This recording included "a conversation in which they discussed [another alleged drug dealer's] outfit, how [the woman who set up the sale, Ms. Hosley] had quit using cocaine,  [the undercover cop's] purported drug habit, and [the alleged drug dealer's] supplier."

To reframe the issue, did the trial court err by admitting a recording of conversation between the undercover cop and the woman who allegedly set up the drug sale between the undercover cop and Shelton?

Hearsay is generally inadmissible as evidence.  However, Maryland Rule 5-803 makes some exceptions.  Specifically, 5-803(a)(5) allows "[a] statement by a co-conspirator of the party during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy[]" to be admissible, even that such a statement is hearsay and the speaker is available.

Here, the State argues that the conversation between the woman and the undercover cop were in furtherance of the drug dealing conspiracy, while the defendant argues that the conversation was "idle chatter" not specifically intended to further the conspiracy.

The Court of Special Appeals rejected the defendant's assertion that the conversation was idle chatter, but instead concluded that Ms. Hosley's conversation with the undercover cop constituted "statements were in furtherance of the conspiracy because they assured [him] that the transaction was going as planned and were intended to assuage any concerns that [he] may have...."

This opinion illustrates how broadly the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule is treated.  This treatment is similar to the cases interpreting the underlying federal rule.

Maryland Rule 1-104. Unreported opinions

(a) Not authority. An unreported opinion of the Court of Appeals or Court of Special Appeals is neither precedent within the rule of stare decisis nor persuasive authority.

(b) Citation. An unreported opinion of either Court may be cited in either Court for any purpose other than as precedent within the rule of stare decisis or as persuasive authority. In any other court, an unreported opinion of either Court may be cited only (1) when relevant under the doctrine of the law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel, (2) in a criminal action or related proceeding involving the same defendant, or (3) in a disciplinary action involving the same respondent. A party who cites an unreported opinion shall attach a copy of it to the pleading, brief, or paper in which it is cited.

Restated in English, part (a) of this Rule says that only reported opinions of the appellate courts of Maryland matter.  

Part (b), on the other hand, is more difficult to parse.  Citing an unreported case is acceptable, unless you actually want to convince the judge that s/he should apply the unreported case to the facts at bar.  In other words, the Rule disallows the citation of an unreported opinion for the general reasons one cites an opinion.  The three reasons a case may be cited are all instances where the case is cited to show facts, not state the law.  

The most important practice point in this Rule is to attach a copy of the unreported case.  Actually, in general, attach as an appendix anything that's not reported that you cite, even if it is obvious and ubiquitous.  In the age of PACER and unreported opinions appearing in the electronic services this Rule might seem antiquated but please, attach it so the judge and your opponent have some clue as to what you are saying.

Maryland Rule 1-103. Method of citation

These rules may be cited collectively as "Md. Rules." A specific rule may be cited as "Rule" followed by the rule number.

This Rule is fairly boring and means what it says.

Maryland Rule 1-102. Circuit and local rules

Unless inconsistent with these rules, circuit and local rules regulating 

(1) court libraries, 

(2) memorial proceedings, 

(3) auditors, 

(4) compensation of trustees in judicial sales, and 

(5) appointment of bail bond commissioners and licensing and regulation of bail bondsmen, 

are not repealed. No circuit and local rules, other than ones regulating the matters and subjects listed in this Rule, shall be adopted.

This Rule is, pretty much, a big fat lie, as any young, frustrated litigator will tell you.  The Rule is essentially saying that the various Circuit Courts and/or judges and/or clerks cannot make their own rules, except for the administrative matters listed in the Rule.  However, in reality, practice and procedure varies widely from Circuit Court to Circuit Court, and even among judges.  The worst part of it is that its rarely written down - and even when it is its in a standard order somewhere that may or may not be easily available.  

Plus, every judge is different.  Judge X wants everything one way, but Judge Y hates it that way and will be irritated if you don't get it right.  Secretary Z in Judge X's chambers likes a heads up when you file something, but Secretary A in Judge Y's chambers gets super irritated if you call.  The clerk on the front desk in the mornings wants things one way and the one in the afternoons the opposite.  Some courts had night drop boxes that close in the evening, and at others as long as you beat the clerk in the morning its stamped as of the previous day (I've never actually done this for the record).  Sometimes night drop boxes disappear and you need to get it in before the Clerk's office closes - which might be ten minutes after or ten minutes before the posted time.

I'm a young litigator, but I still burn in humiliation remembering when, as an even younger litigator, I found out that while I had filed something in strict accordance with the actual Maryland Rules, I violated an unwritten Rule in a jurisdiction that everyone who practiced there knew about, but about which everyone at my large law firm was ignorant of.  Learn from my mistakes readers - learn unwritten local procedure as soon as you get a case in that court.  Consider hiring local co-counsel if the case warrants it.  Ask friends who practice before that court to lunch and grill them on local quirks.  Introduce yourself to the various clerks, secretaries, and others you might be in contact with and make sure you're super nice.  Well before any deadline, ask chambers and the clerk about courtesy copies, drop boxes, exhibits, motions to seal, and all the administrative stuff that can trip you up.

And while there are many who disagree with me, I truly believe that this is the job of the attorney on the file, not their support staff.  Instructing staff to make the calls, get the information, and execute is reasonable, but remember that when you forget the courtesy copy the judge wanted, or when the drop box closes at 6 not midnight, its the attorney, not their staff, who made the mistake.

Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure

The Rules Committee meets to propose changes to the Maryland Rules.  They are indeed meeting today to discuss these changes.

Maryland Rule 1-101. Applicability.

Rule 1-101. Applicability 

(a) Title 1. Title 1 applies to all matters in all courts of this State, except the Orphans' Courts and except as otherwise specifically provided.

(b) Title 2. Title 2 applies to civil matters in the circuit courts, except for Juvenile Causes under Title 11 of these Rules and except as otherwise specifically provided or necessarily implied.

(c) Title 3. Title 3 applies to civil matters in the District Court, except as otherwise specifically provided or necessarily implied.

(d) Title 4. Title 4 applies to criminal matters; post conviction procedures; and expungement of records in the District Court and the circuit courts, including records of civil offenses or infractions, except juvenile offenses, under a State or local law enacted as a substitute for a criminal charge.

(e) Title 5. Title 5 applies to all actions in the courts of this State, except as otherwise provided by statute or rule.

(f) Title 6. Title 6 applies to matters in the Orphans' Courts and before the registers of wills relating to the settlement of decedents' estates.

(g) Title 7. Title 7 applies to appellate and other judicial review in the circuit courts.

(h) Title 8. Title 8 applies to appellate review in the Court of Appeals and the Court of Special Appeals.

(i) Title 9. Title 9 applies to proceedings under Code, Family Law Article, Title 5, Subtitles 3 (Guardianship to and Adoption through Local Department), 3A (Private Agency Guardianship and Adoption), and 3B (Independent Adoption) and proceedings relating to divorce, annulment, alimony, child support, and child custody and visitation.

(j) Title 10. Title 10 applies to fiduciary matters in the courts of this State, except for matters relating to the settlement of decedents' estates governed by Title 6 of these Rules and guardianships governed by Title 9 of these Rules.

(k) Title 11. Title 11 applies to juvenile causes under Code, Courts Article, Title 3, Subtitles 8 and 8A.

(l) Title 12. Title 12 applies to property actions relating to writs of survey, lis pendens, actions for release of lien instruments, condemnation, mechanics' liens, partition, redemption of ground rents, replevin, and detinue.

(m) Title 13. Title 13 applies to proceedings relating to estates of assignees and receivers.

(n) Title 14. Title 14 applies to proceedings relating to sales of property.

(o) Title 15. Title 15 applies to special proceedings relating to arbitration, catastrophic health emergencies, contempt, habeas corpus, health claims arbitration, injunctions, judicial releases of individuals confined for mental disorders, mandamus, the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, name changes, and wrongful death.

(p) Title 16. Title 16 applies to the courts, judges, and attorneys.

(q) Title 17. Title 17 applies to alternative dispute resolution proceedings in civil actions in a circuit court, except for actions or orders to enforce a contractual agreement to submit a dispute to alternative dispute resolution.

You can't know the players without a scorecard.  Our first Rule is long, boring, and not particularly descriptive - but its rather important.  This is our table of contents, where we go to figure out what Rule we need to know.  

Title 1 is the basic stuff that applies to pretty much every action in court in Maryland, with the exception of the Orphans' Court.  Which brings us to the first in what I am sure will be many detours in this commentary - the Orphans' Court.  Despite its Oliver Twist invoking name, the Orphans' Court isn't a court of adoptions.  Instead, the Orphans' Court is Maryland's probate court.  In 1777, the General Assembly established an Orphans' Court and Register of Wills for each County or County-equivalent (Baltimore City). The basic structure of this system survives to this day.  The function of the Orphans' Court is to see to the distribution of property owned by a decedent under the terms of a will or under Maryland probate law.  Orphans' Court judges preside over each Court.  Interestingly, Orphans' Court judges do not need to be attorneys in all jurisdictions, nor are they full time in all jurisdictions.  

Title 2 is my section of the Maryland Rules - the civil rules of the Circuit Court.  This section is akin to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, so hated by every 1L.  

Title 3 is awfully similar to Title 2, and is the civil rules for District Court.  District Court has jurisdiction for smaller civil matters, all handled without a jury.  District Court also handles all landlord-tenant disputes, even extremely complex, high priced ones.  More on that later in the Rules.

Title 4 is rules of criminal procedure in both Circuit and District Courts, as well as post conviction relief and other criminal related matters.

Title 5 is the rules of evidence.  It's rather similar to the Federal Rules of Evidence, though there are differences.

Title 6 is the rules of the Orphan's Court, our probate rules in Maryland.

Title 7 is the appellate rules for cases coming from District Court to Circuit Court for review.

Title 8 is the appellate rules for cases appealed to the Court of Special Appeals, the first layer of Maryland's courts of appeal, and of our highest court, the Court of Appeals.  I've already had my detour in this post, so I will refrain from discussing the history of the Court of Special Appeals in this post.

Title 9 is the family law rules.  This is an area of the law in which I have absolutely zero experience.  Family law matters are handled by the Circuit Court, but in many if not most counties, the work is delegated to Masters.

Title 10 contains the rules for fiduciaries and guardians, except for in the case of the estates of decedents (a.k.a. dead people) which is handled by the Orphan's Court rules in Title 6.

Title 11 is the rules for juvenile proceedings.

Title 12 is one of my favorites - the flagrant use of law Latin and with a whiff of ye olde English Blackacre.  On occasion while reading Title 12 I have flashbacks to Property as a 1L, though of course my professor did not actually teach the rules.  What I mostly remember from that class is a rattlesnake, precious bird droppings, a bottle, and finding the word riparian really funny.

Title 13 is the rules for receivers and assignees.  I've used this title exactly once, in a case so confusing that it would confound any set of rules.

Title 14 is one of my favorites - the rules for the sale of real property. This is a very Rules-driven practice area, where failure to follow the Rules can be disastrous.

Title 15 contains the rules for other special proceedings.  I'm not really sure why MAIF is included.

Title 16 is the rules for the court, judges, and attorneys.  Court administration, disciplinary actions, and similar are found here.  Of particular note to litigators are the access to court records rules.  While on first read they are confusing to say the least, it does discuss the provision of redacted copies of documents filed under seal.  However, it's not clear what sanction, if any, exists if an attorney fails to do so.

Title 17 is alternative dispute resolution rules.

The purpose of this blog

As a Maryland litigator, much of my life is run by the Maryland Rules.  While the Maryland Rules are annotated and there are a few editions of commentary, there appears to be no blog or other website devoted to the Rules and to cases from the Court of Appeals and Court of Special Appeals applying the Rules.  I am, above all things, a total geek.  I love the Rules.  As an attorney my duty is to serve the client, and the Rules are the best tools for doing so.  Despite the genre of television courtroom drama, most of civil litigation is motions practice, discovery, and other seemingly mundane things that, in Maryland, are run by the Rules.  

The purpose of this blog is a personal intellectual exercise.  My goal is to do one Rule or sub-Rule a day until  the Rules have been exhausted.  I expect that I will miss that goal regularly.  After wading through the Rules, I intend to post updates and comments on Rules related decisions.  

Of course, I'm a lawyer, so I am going to write a lot of meaningless language that boils down to the following - this is a personal blog, some navel gazing, so do not depend on it or me for anything.  Or, in other words, this website is the personal weblog of Nina Basu, Esq.  The material contained on this website and any opinions expressed solely belong to Ms. Basu and not to any current, former, or future employer or Ms. Basu.  No opinions may be attributed to any employer, affiliate, or partner of Ms. Basu.  The information on this site is provided for informational purposes only.  This website is not peer reviewed and may contain inaccuracies.  Ms. Basu makes no claim regarding the accuracy of any information contained herein.  This website is presented with the understanding that no legal advice is being offered or given.  No attorney/client relationship shall be formed by viewing this website, posting a comment on this website, or contacting Ms. Basu through this website or by any other means related to this website.  Should a reader need legal advice or an answer to a specific legal question, it is recommended that the reader seek such advice from an attorney admitted to practice in the appropriate jurisdiction.  All commentary posted by Ms. Basu on this website is copyrighted to Ms. Basu.