As you probably know, last year, Md. R. 1-322.1 formalized the requirement for counsel to redact personal identifier information “in any electronic or paper filing with a court.” The Maryland Court of Appeals also issued new Md. R. 1-322.2 that would require a Certificate of Compliance with Md. R. 1-322.1, in every filing, and the signed certification should be part of the document or attached to it.

The original effective date of Md. R. 1-322.2 was set for July 1, 2014. However, on June 17, following strong opposition from district and circuit court clerks, the Maryland Court of Appeals issued an order deferring the effective date until September 1, 2014.

Moreover, the Rules Committee met on June 19 to consider possible amendments or clarifications to the scope of rules 1-322.1 and 1-322.2. According to a report in The Daily Record, the Rules Committee voted to repeal 1-322.2. The Committee’s recommendations will go to the Court of Appeals for a final decision on the certification requirements. The Court of Appeals is expected to vote in July or August on the committee’s recommended repeal.

For your reference, here are some useful links:

• Text of the order changing the effective date: click here
• Agenda for the meeting and the concerns of the Rules Committee: click here
• The Daily Record article covering this topic: click here

Also, Maryland rules are available at LexisNexis, at no charge, via this link: Maryland Rules.

Please contact me with any questions regarding preparing and filing any appeal. Counsel Press provides a full spectrum of appellate services. Our Washington, DC office focuses on rule-compliant appellate filings in the Maryland, DC and Virginia state and district courts, as well as the D.C. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. We offer unparalleled in-depth expertise nationwide in all state & federal courts through our local offices.

Tagged: Appellate Practice, Appellate Procedure, The Maryland Court of Appeals, Litigation