Court Records Plan

Court Record Access Plan Sent to Chief Judge for Review

The report from a judicial advisory panel that would keep Maryland court records, especially electronic records, open to the public has been presented to the state’s chief judge following a 30-day public comment period that resulted in no change to the recommended plan.

Retired Circuit Judge Paul E. Alpert, who chaired the Committee on Access to Court Records, transmitted the report to Robert M. Bell, chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, in mid-March. Alpert told Bell he had reviewed the nine written responses received during the comment period and determined they did not warrant further review by his committee.

Judge Bell’s office said he is reviewing the report. At press time he had not announced what action he would take on the matter.

The draft plan, the result of a 12-month effort by Alpert’s committee, calls for the Maryland court system to make its paper records uniformly accessible across the state and to continue current access to electronic records. It also cautions that privacy issues may arise as more records are filed and maintained electronically, and suggests that in the future the court consider whether current safeguards are sufficient.

The MDDC Press Association has endorsed the plan, noting that it maintains maximum public access. The Association was represented on the committee by Carol Melamed of The Washington Post, who was singled out by Alpert for her special contributions in development of the plan.

Calling her efforts in the drafting of the final report "above and beyond the call of duty," Alpert also praised Melamed’s overall contributions to the project. "Not only were you a tireless participant in committee meetings," he said, "your leadership of the subcommittee on competing values and interests was apparent in the focus of the concise subcommittee report. In fact, your quiet leadership and thoughtful, well-constructed position statements were invaluable throughout the process."

The 18-member committee was formed in December 2000, a month after an earlier panel proposed sharply curbing public access to the computerized records that are used for everything from background checks to routine news reporting.

The proposal prompted an outcry from representatives of news organizations and the 3,000 businesses and individuals who depend on court records.