A2JC Dispatch – August 2024 Issue
The August Issue
A2J Commission News
In this month’s dispatch, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible volunteers at A2JC who are driving forward the cause of civil justice. We also highlight the Maryland Judiciary’s new video series on remote hearings and significant legal updates throughout the state, including a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Brown against an Eastern Shore landlord for civil rights violations, a ruling on Baltimore’s eviction law, and an expansion of cannabis expungements. Additionally, we cover national news on HUD’s eviction prevention grants, Texas’ new legal access rules, and the DOJ’s recognition of Executive Order 13166. Find these stories and more in this month’s Dispatch.
- A2JC thanks its volunteers for giving their time and talent to advancing civil justice for all!
This summer, Emma Michael helped us by working on a social media audit! Julianne Wells, who has a passion for the law and equal justice, has joined A2JC as a volunteer for the upcoming year as she prepares to go to law school next year. And we give a hearty thanks to Dr. Carolyn Lichtenstein who has been with A2JC since 2020 and has helped A2JC develop many of its data tools.
A2JC is always looking for exceptional talent. If you are passionate about equal justice for all and have skills in communications, legal research & writing, data analysis or fundraising, we welcome an application to volunteer with us. Please send a cover letter, resume and three references to Reena Shah at reena@msba.org.
Tips from Maryland Judiciary’s Access to Justice Department. We are pleased to offer recurring content from the Maryland Judiciary’s Access to Justice Department as part of the A2J Dispatch.
- Access to Justice is excited to announce a new video series on remote hearings. This comprehensive series includes guides on preparing for and logging into Zoom hearings, tips for participating using a computer or a phone, working with court interpreters, working with accommodations, and essential advice for attorneys. Each video also includes a tip sheet summarizing its content for quick reference.
Local A2J News
- Attorney General Brown Files Lawsuit Against Eastern Shore Landlord for Violating Civil Rights Laws “For too long predatory landlords have taken advantage of people in financial and housing crisis by abusing their power as housing providers to make sexual demands of tenants or prospective tenants – often low-income women and single mothers,” said Attorney General Anthony Brown. “In Maryland, that ends today.”
- Disability Rights Maryland’s FY 2025 Advocacy Services Plan Survey DRM receives federal money to provide legal services to Marylanders with disabilities. We would like your help to decide which issues we should focus our limited resources on for the next three years.
- Fourth Circuit Rules Baltimore Law Violates Constitutional Protection of Private Property A Baltimore law that allows landlords to confiscate tenants’ possessions after an eviction is unconstitutional, according to a recent court ruling, because it deprives tenants of their property without due process.
- Maryland Cannabis Expungements Expand as Recreational Marijuana Reaches One-Year Mark With recreational marijuana now legal, people with minor convictions before the laws changed were stuck with tainted criminal records.
National News
- Explore Emerging Trends in Data With NCSC’s New Webinar Series The series will showcase legacy NCSC guidance and resources, with court representatives discussing how their organizations have leveraged the tools to support the fair, equitable, and efficient administration of justice—both now and in the future.
- HUD Makes $40 Million Available to Prevent Evictions and Prevent Homelessness To ensure households have access to stable housing, HUD launched the Eviction Protection Grant Program, a first-of-its-kind federal program to stabilize housing and prevent housing evictions through legal assistance, in 2021.
- Texas Supreme Court Preliminary Approves Rules Expanding Legal Access for Low-Income Clients The Court concluded that the licensing of legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to provide limited legal services to low-income individuals will help narrow the justice gap and expand access to justice for low-income individuals.
- Justice Department Recognizes Anniversary of Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency At its core, the Order acknowledges the fundamental principle that the federal government must be able to understand and communicate with all people in the United States, including those with limited English proficiency (LEP), to keep our country and communities safe and prosperous.
- National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel’s Statement on Supreme Court’s Grant Pass Decision NCCRC makes a statement about the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass opinion about the criminalization of unhoused individuals, saying it was wrong not only as a matter of law, but as a matter of basic human rights. In the opinion, the Court held that criminally charging unhoused individuals for “camping” on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
- Rochester Legal Aid Society program to Help Victims of Domestic Violence The Legal Aid Society of Rochester is restarting a program that provides comprehensive civil legal services to people who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
- Outside the Box: How States Are Increasing Access to Justice Through Evidence-Based Regulation of the Practice of Law A new approach to bringing people access to justice “centers the justice experiences of ordinary people, rather than the structure or staffing of justice institutions, the elements of legal families, or the content of laws themselves.”