ÿWPCO 6ÎË4…j²Þ±–ªG}Qˆ> +åÝ•G…SèürI~±ÊâQ•b˜ø€M|ŠEÒ(2Šðä¤q`hø™GQ"û~ðEÁ,‹4/"Næ³D%á‚…1˜ÐÚd.yâþFJï=³ÜÎ'5L½Ö´n©pVgt$ÄÈðF!üÓÔAzˆÉgoî:‰³m³I þtŸVo(–Bn*µÂ@Éft ™´'ÞPr-Ž! ògmjšã]»r‹ø%r2á½' p¬û'…åc”L¯3Ó™l˜ÂoUÚTB[=ƒ|¥m©L(+¬[ù$óÑ6â3›¾–ËëÚ¼ à*#ʦ³ˆ( ‰7ÛÌ‹hhJ¤ v¡ ëA‚+ôº$ËŒ¤mtN4‡'£ä¸J3CLž~…ÒÌwíâ#›ÝI ¬pý |}¹…qR”ÛeE8îEgœÃBÿˆÛ¡<­[Øl]FhùÖxrî6_›CXÖ\(F{ØèDû \iõgë©aÅÛL¬:CÞ5ö\ ÅLE¾‰ Aozíà #aå¶X OÖô-{ÀÄÇ×#Â]¯ƒãc‚Ð\=ÉÐVüh‹Û„4{ë:Êþ/ UrlFy¦P›«òjê9©Ò‚ ¤ÝXt2u/c #!¶UN× %% 0(+w@S4“§¶ m¸U>Ïb U:˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0xÈhH  Z6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ED D  Eou(&,€ñ~3|x ?ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ´è\( 9Z+&Courier Regular- ù-<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý›ÑX°ÑÔ€ X×ßXXXÔÑ€ ÑÑ8€:ÆXXdðdð8ÑÑ  Ñà@¸ ¸ ìàCOURT€OF€APPEALS€STANDING€COMMITTEEˆÐ ° Ðà@ô ô ìàòòON€RULES€OF€PRACTICE€AND€PROCEDUREóóˆÐ xÈ ÐÌÌÓÓà  àMinutes€of€a€meeting€of€the€Rules€Committee€held€in€RoomÏ¢1100B£€of€the€Peopleððs€Resource€Center,€100€Community€Place,Ï¢Crownsville£,€Maryland€on€February€11,€2000.ÌÓÓÌà  àMembers€present:ÌÌHon.€Joseph€F.€Murphy,€Jr.,€ChairÌLinda€M.€¢Schuett£,€Esq.,€Vice€ChairÌÌAlbert€D.€Brault,€Esq.à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àRobert€D.€Klein,€Esq.Ð0€ (#(# ÐRobert€L.€Dean,€Esq.à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àLarry€W.€¢Shipley£,€ClerkÐøH (#(# ÐHon.€James€W.€Drydenà0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àMelvin€J.€Sykes,€Esq.ÐÀ(#(# ÐBayard€Z.€Hochberg,€Esq.à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àRoger€W.€Titus,€Esq.ЈØ(#(# ÐH.€Thomas€Howell,€Esq.à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àHon.€James€N.€VaughanÐP (#(# ÐHon.€G.€R.€Hovey€Johnsonà0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àRobert€A.€Zarnoch,€Esq.Ðh(#(# ÐHon.€Joseph€H.€H.€KaplanÌÌÌà  àIn€attendance:ÌÌSandra€F.€Haines,€Esq.,€ReporterÌSherie€B.€Libber,€Esq.,€Assistant€ReporterÌDeborah€¢Unitus£,€Administrative€Office€of€the€CourtsÌBarbara€Gavin,€Esq.,€State€Board€of€Law€ExaminersÌBedford€T.€Bentley,€Jr.,€Esq.,€Secretary,€State€BoardÌ€€of€Law€ExaminersÌÌÌÓÓà  àThe€Chair€convened€the€meeting.€€He€asked€if€there€were€anyÏadditions€or€corrections€to€the€minutes€of€the€November€19,€1999Ïmeeting.€€There€being€none,€Mr.€Hochberg€moved€to€adopt€theÏminutes€as€presented,€the€motion€was€seconded,€and€it€passedÏunanimously.€€ÌÓÓÌAgenda€Item€2.€€Consideration€of€proposed€new€Bar€Admission€Rule€€Ï€€23€(Immunity€From€Civil€Liability)Ì_________________________________________________________________ÌÌÓÓà  àThe€Chair€told€the€Committee€that€Agenda€Item€2€would€beÏdiscussed€first,€because€Bedford€T.€Bentley,€Jr.,€Esq.,€Secretary€Ð  P- (4 Ðto€the€Board€of€Law€Examiners,€and€Barbara€S.€Gavin,€Esq.,ÏDirector€of€Character€and€Fitness€were€at€the€meeting€to€explainÏproposed€Bar€Admission€Rule€23.Ìà  àMr.€Brault€presented€proposed€Bar€Admission€Rule€23,ÏImmunity€From€Civil€Liability,€for€the€Committeeððs€consideration.ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@l l ìàRULES€GOVERNING€ADMISSION€TO€THEˆÌÌà@hh#ìàBAR€OF€MARYLANDˆÌÌÌà ¸ àADD€Bar€Admission€Rule€23,€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€23.€€IMMUNITY€FROM€CIVIL€LIABILITYÌÌÌ€€(a)€€Official€ConductÌÌà ¸ à€€The€Board€of€Law€Examiners,€theÏCharacter€Committees,€and€their€members,Ïemployees,€and€agents€are€absolutely€immuneÏfrom€all€civil€liability€for€conduct€andÏcommunications€occurring€in€the€performanceÏof€their€official€duties€relating€to€theÏexamination,€investigation,€character€andÏfitness€qualification,€and€licensing€ofÏpersons€seeking€to€be€admitted€to€theÏpractice€of€law.ÌÌ€€(b)€€CommunicationsÌÌà ¸ à€€Persons,€including€individuals,€firms,Ïor€institutions,€furnishing€records,Ïstatements€of€opinion,€and€other€informationÏregarding€an€applicant€for€bar€admission€toÏthe€Board€of€Law€Examiners,€the€CharacterÏCommittees,€or€their€members,€employees,€orÏagents€are€absolutely€immune€from€all€civilÏliability€for€these€communications.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àBar€Admission€Rule€23€was€accompanied€by€the€followingÌÌReporterððs€Note.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÐ  .h)5 Ðà ¸ àOn€behalf€of€the€State€Board€of€LawÏExaminers,€its€Secretary€Bedford€T.€Bentley,ÏJr.,€Esq.,€has€requested€the€addition€of€BarÏAdmission€Rule€23.€€The€Board€feels€thatÏexplicit€immunity€is€necessary€for€theÏprotection€of€its€members,€members€of€theÏCharacter€Committee,€and€others€involved€inÏthe€investigation€of€the€character€andÏfitness€of€applicants€for€admission€to€theÏbar.€€A€letter€of€advice€from€Julia€M.ÏAndrew,€Esq.,€Assistant€Attorney€GeneralÏprovides€that€although€statutory€law€and€theÏEleventh€Amendment€provide€some€immunity,€toÏassure€absolute€immunity,€a€specific€ruleÏshould€be€enacted.€€The€language€of€theÏproposed€Rule€is€taken€from€the€American€BarÏAssociation€Model€Rule.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àMr.€Brault€explained€that,€at€the€request€of€the€Board€ofÏLaw€Examiners,€€Rule€23€had€been€discussed€by€the€AttorneysÏSubcommittee€at€two€meetings.€€The€issues€for€discussion€were€(1)Ïis€the€Rule€necessary?,€(2)€if€it€is,€should€the€immunity€beÏqualified€or€absolute?,€and€(3)€does€the€court€have€the€power€toÏextend€a€substantive€grant€of€immunity?€€Mr.€Brault€remarked€thatÏhe€was€not€certain€if€there€needs€to€be€a€rule,€but€he€expressedÏthe€view€that€the€benefit€of€immunity€would€not€be€achievedÏunless€some€action€is€taken.€€Delegate€Joseph€¢Vallario£,€a€memberÏof€the€Rules€Committee,€and€Bedford€T.€Bentley,€Jr.,€Secretary,ÏState€Board€of€Law€Examiners,€had€each€requested€an€opinion€fromÏthe€Maryland€Attorney€General.€€The€opinions€are€in€the€meetingÏmaterials.€€(See€Appendix€1).€€They€clearly€indicate€that€thereÏis€authority€to€draft€a€rule€providing€immunity€to€the€Board€ofÏLaw€Examiners.Ìœà  àMr.›€Brault€told€the€Committee€that€the€Subcommittee€hadÏdiscussed€whether€the€immunity€should€be€qualified€or€absolute.€€ÏOne€of€the€issues€for€debate€was€whether€an€applicant€should€beÐ .h)5 Ðallowed€to€sue€someone€who€deliberately€tries€to€ruin€theÏapplicantððs€reputation.€€The€Subcommittee€decided€that€in€spiteÏof€that€scenario,€the€Rule€should€provide€absolute€immunity.€€IfÏthe€Rule€provided€qualified€immunity,€there€would€have€to€beÏdiscovery€and€questions€for€the€jury€to€answer.€€Many€entitiesÏeither€already€have€absolute€immunity€from€suit€or€are€theÏsubject€of€pending€proposals€for€absolute€immunity.€€Mr.€BraultÏadded€that€he€had€won€a€case€in€the€Court€of€Appeals€whichÏestablished€absolute€immunity€in€favor€of€an€emergency€medicalÏtechnician€against€a€complainant.€€The€Court€of€Appeals€seems€toÏbe€leaning€in€favor€of€absolute€immunity.€€Delegate€¢Vallario£€hasÏquestioned€the€need€for€a€rule€providing€immunity,€because€it€isÏavailable€under€state€and€federal€law.€€His€views€are€stated€in€aÏletter€which€is€part€of€the€meeting€materials.€€(See€Appendix€2).Ìà  àMr.€Bentley€said€that€the€impetus€for€the€proposed€RuleÏcomes€from€concerns€of€the€eight€Character€Committees,€whichÏcomprise€110€to€120€attorneys€who€investigate€individualÏapplicants€on€a€voluntary€basis.€€They€prepare€reports€as€to€theÏcharacter€and€fitness€of€applicants€to€the€Bar.€€It€is€not€clearÏas€to€what€protections€are€afforded€them.€€In€the€past,€CharacterÏCommittee€members€have€been€sued€both€individually€and€as€membersÏof€the€committee.€€The€Board€of€Law€Examiners€feels€that€aÏstatement€is€needed€to€clarify€that€members€and€staff€of€theÏCharacter€Committees€have€protection€against€lawsuits.€€OneÏconcern€is€third€parties€who€relate€information€about€applicants.€ÏRoutinely,€people€tell€the€Board€about€something€in€theÏbackground€of€an€applicant€that€may€cast€doubt€on€the€applicantððsÐ P- (4 Ðmoral€character,€but€the€informant€is€reluctant€to€provideÏdetails€for€fear€of€being€sued.€€Mr.€Brault€added€that€this€isÏespecially€true€for€banks,€credit€card€companies,€and€employers.€ÏMs.€Gavin€commented€that€there€was€a€recent€case€in€which€anÏapplicant€told€them€that€he€was€paying€off€an€enormous€debt,€butÏthe€indications€were€that€he€was€not.€€The€bank€involved€wasÏreluctant€to€give€the€Board€a€letter€about€this€because€it€wasÏafraid€of€being€sued.€€Ms.€Gavin€said€that€she€had€also€dealtÏwith€an€attorney€who€had€fired€a€law€clerk,€an€applicant€to€theÏbar,€because€the€clerk€had€stolen€money€from€the€attorney.€€TheÏattorney€was€hesitant€to€provide€information€because€he€feared€aÏlawsuit.€€Mr.€Brault€noted€that€law€firms€receive€inquiries€aboutÏformer€employees,€and€their€standard€answer€is€to€give€theÏemployeeððs€dates€of€employment€only.€€A€rule€is€necessary€toÏprotect€banks€and€employers.Ìà  àMr.€Hochberg€pointed€out€that€immunity€is€often€beingÏoffered€lately.€€He€said€that€he€was€neutral€about€having€anÏimmunity€rule,€but€he€expressed€the€opinion€that€giving€immunityÏto€people€who€volunteer€information€without€having€been€asked€isÏnot€a€good€idea.€€He€represented€an€attorney€who€he€feels€shouldÏbe€entitled€to€money€damages€in€a€situation€where€the€attorneyððsÏestranged€spouse€had€volunteered€false€information€about€theÏattorney€because€of€a€vendetta€arising€out€of€domestic€problems.€€ÏSection€(b)€of€the€Rule€should€be€limited€to€third€parties€whoÏare€òòrespondingóó€to€a€request€for€information.€€The€American€BarÐ 0*€%0 ÐAssociation€(ABA)€version€of€the€Rule€provides€that€records,Ïstatements€of€opinion,€and€other€information€regarding€anÐ P- (4 Ðapplicant€communicated€by€any€entity€òòwithoutóó€òòmaliceóó€(emphasisÐ ° Ðadded)€are€privileged.€€The€letter€from€Julia€M.€Andrew,ÏAssistant€Attorney€General,€states€that€the€General€AssemblyÏaffords€immunity€to€persons€providing€information€to€otherÏlicensing€boards€only€when€the€person€is€acting€in€good€faith.Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€commented€that€the€Rule€has€to€strike€aÏbalance.€€Affording€immunity€only€to€people€who€are€requested€toÏgive€information€discourages€people€from€giving€information.€€€ÏThe€policy€should€be€to€encourage€people€to€provide€information.€ÏThe€Vice€Chair€stated€that€she€was€in€favor€of€absolute€immunity.Ìà  àJudge€Dryden€remarked€that€the€Board€can€check€publicÏrecords€to€find€out€a€personððs€background.€€Ms.€Gavin€said€thatÏthey€are€able€to€check€with€the€Criminal€Justice€InformationÏSystem€(¢CJIS£)€and€the€civil€domestic€violence€records,€but€theyÏdo€not€have€sufficient€resources€to€do€record€searches€on€eachÏapplicant.Ìà  àThe€Chair€commented€that€if€the€standard€is€acting€in€goodÏfaith,€and€the€complaint€alleges€bad€faith,€much€discovery€isÏgenerated€even€if€the€complaint€is€eventually€dismissed.€€InÏtheory,€if€an€evil€person€lies€under€oath,€there€is€theÏpossibility€of€a€perjury€charge.€€Some€checks€and€balances€on€theÏsystem€exist.€€Judge€Dryden€observed€that€the€Board€can€requireÏthe€application€to€sign€a€release€for€bank€records.€€Ms.€GavinÏresponded€that€the€banks€do€not€always€accept€the€releases.€€TheÏVice€Chair€remarked€that€even€under€the€Rule,€if€it€is€adopted,Ïthe€banks€still€do€not€have€to€accept€the€releases.€€She€notedÏthat€in€section€(a),€there€may€be€other€duties€besidesÐ P- (4 Ðexamination,€investigation,€character€and€fitness€qualification,Ïand€licensing€of€persons.€€Instead€of€the€words€ð ðrelating€to,ðð€itÐ @ Ðwould€be€better€to€use€the€word€ð ðincludingðð€to€leave€open€theÐ Ð  Ðpossibility€of€other€duties.€€The€Committee€agreed€to€this€changeÏby€consensus.Ìà  àMr.€Hochberg€expressed€the€view€that€section€(b)€should€beÏeliminated.€€The€Vice€Chair€pointed€out€that€the€ABA€uses€theÏlanguage€that€the€communication€is€privileged,€but€theÏSubcommittee€has€rejected€the€privilege€concept.€€Mr.€TitusÏcommented€that€the€Subcommittee€was€troubled€by€the€privilegeÏconcept€and€chose€different€language.€€Mr.€Brault€noted€thatÏprivileged€communications€are€a€part€of€defamation€law.€€TheÏprivilege€gives€rise€to€a€qualified€immunity.€€Mr.€TitusÏexpressed€his€concern€about€absolute€immunity€in€the€case€ofÏsomeone€who€makes€a€vicious€statement€to€ruin€the€applicantððsÏrecord,€but€he€said€that€he€was€convinced€that€the€Rule€shouldÏprovide€absolute€immunity€to€avoid€the€unnecessary€ordeal€of€aÏlitigation.Ìà  àMr.€Sykes€referred€to€Delegate€¢Vallario£ððs€question€as€to€howÏserious€the€problem€has€been€to€warrant€a€rule.€€It€may€be€likeÏusing€a€cannon€to€knock€down€a€tin€can.€€The€Chair€responded€thatÏthe€threats€of€suit€are€unlikely€to€happen€if€a€rule€is€put€intoÏeffect.€€Even€though€there€have€only€been€a€few€suits,€thisÏcauses€enough€concern€to€frighten€people€into€not€providingÏinformation.€€Mr.€Sykes€observed€that€the€Court€of€Appeals€mayÏwant€documentation€as€to€the€severity€of€the€problem.€€Any€timeÏattorneys€give€immunity€to€other€attorneys€trying€to€keep€peopleÐ P- (4 Ðout€of€the€legal€profession,€it€is€a€difficult€situationÏregardless€of€how€laudable€the€intention€of€the€Rule€is.€€TheÏCourt€of€Appeals€has€the€right€to€adopt€this€rule.€€However,€ifÏthe€legislature€were€to€give€its€approval,€it€might€be€better€forÏthe€legal€profession,€as€a€matter€of€public€relations.€€The€ChairÏsuggested€that,€without€naming€names,€a€sufficient€case€could€beÏdocumented€to€justify€the€Rule.Ìà  àMr.€Hochberg€moved€to€amend€section€(b)€to€add€the€languageÐ  ð  Ðð ðin€response€to€a€request€or€inquiryðð€after€the€word€ð ðagentsðð€andÐ 0€  Ðbefore€the€word€ð ðare.ðð€€The€motion€was€seconded,€and€it€did€notÐ À Ðpass,€with€only€two€in€favor.€€The€Committee€approved€the€Rule€asÏamended.€€The€Chair€thanked€Mr.€Bentley€and€Ms.€Gavin€forÏattending€the€meeting.ÌÓÓÌAgenda€Item€1.€€Consideration€of€certain€proposed€recommendationsÌ€€of€the€General€Court€Administration€Subcommittee:€New€Rule€16„Ì€€819€(Court€Interpreters),€Amendments€to€Rule€1„303€(For€ofÌ€€Oath),€Amendments€to€Rule€16„404€(Administration€of€CourtÌ€€Reporters),€Rule€16„504€(Recording€of€Proceedings),€AmendmentsÌ€€to:€Rule€16„101€(Administrative€Responsibility),€Rule€2„505Ì€€(Removal),€Rule€4„254€(Reassignment€and€Removal),€andÌ€€Amendments€to€Rule€16„817€(Appointment€of€Bail€BondÌ€€Commissioner„„Licensing€and€Regulation€of€Bail€Bondsmen)Ì_________________________________________________________________ÌÌÌÓÓà  àThe€Chair€presented€Rule€16„819,€Court€Interpreters,€for€theÏCommitteeððs€consideration.ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@Œ Œ ìàTITLE€16€„€COURTS,€JUDGES,€AND€ATTORNEYSˆÌÌà@˜ ˜ ìàCHAPTER€800€„€MISCELLANEOUSˆÌÌÌà ¸ àADD€new€Rule€16„819,€as€follows:ÌÌÐ .h)5 ÐRule€16„819.€€COURT€INTERPRETERSÌÌÌ€€(a)€€Regulations€and€StandardsÌÌà ¸ à€€The€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€shall€from€time€to€time€prescribeÏregulations€and€standards€regarding€courtÏinterpreters€and€their€practice€in€the€courtsÏof€this€State.€€The€regulations€and€standardsÏmay€include:ÌÌ€€€€(1)€€The€selection,€qualifications,€andÏresponsibilities€of€court€interpreters;ÌÌ€€€€(2)€€Minimum€training€and€testingÏrequirements€for€court€interpreters;ÌÌ€€€€(3)€€Designation€of€a€court€interpreterÏsupervisory€authority,€in€accordance€with€theÏstandards€of€conduct€for€court€interpreters;ÌÌ€€€€(4)€€Designation€of€a€supervisoryÏauthority€for€disciplinary€action€against€aÏcourt€interpreter;ÌÌ€€€€(5)€€Procedures€for€court€interpreting;ÌÌ€€€€(6)€€Payment€of€court€interpreters,€asÏprovided€by€law;ÌÌ€€€€(7)€€Equipment€used€in€courtÏinterpreting;€andÌÌ€€€€(8)€€Procedures€for€the€maintenance€andÏfiling€of€administrative€records€with€theÏAdministrative€Office€of€the€Courts.ÌÌ€€(b)€€ImplementationÌÌà ¸ à€€The€Administrative€Office€of€theÏCourts€shall€be€responsible€for€implementingÏthe€regulations€and€standards€regarding€courtÏinterpreters.ÌÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€new.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà0  àRule€16„819€was€accompanied€by€the€following€ReporterððsÐ (#(# ÐÌNote.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àThe€General€Court€AdministrationÏSubcommittee€is€proposing€the€adoption€ofÐ .h)5 ÐRule€16„819,€Court€Interpreters,€inÏaccordance€with€the€Report€of€the€MarylandÏJudicial€Conference€Advisory€Committee€onÏInterpreters,€which€had€recommended€that€theÏCourt€of€Appeals€adopt€a€set€of€rulesÏgoverning€the€use€of€interpreters€in€court.ÌÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Chair€introduced€Deborah€¢Unitus£€of€the€AdministrativeÏOffice€of€the€Courts€(¢AOC£),€who€was€attending€the€meeting€toÏanswer€questions€about€Rule€16„819.€€The€Reporterððs€noteÏindicates€that€the€Maryland€Judicial€Conference€AdvisoryÏCommittee€on€Interpreters€had€recommended€that€there€be€a€set€ofÏrules€governing€the€use€of€interpreters€in€court.€€Initially,€theÏrecommended€set€of€rules€was€expansive,€including€a€code€forÏinterpreters.€€The€General€Court€Administration€SubcommitteeÏchose€to€recommend€that€the€code€not€be€included€in€the€Rule.€ÏThe€Rule€authorizes€the€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€toÏprescribe€regulations€and€to€provide€a€list€of€regulations€thatÏare€implemented€by€the€¢AOC£.€€Ìà  àMs.€¢Unitus£€explained€that€Elizabeth€¢Veronis£,€Esq.,€CourtÏOfficer,€had€drafted€the€Rule€in€response€to€the€SubcommitteeððsÏsuggestions.€€The€Vice€Chair€referred€to€language€in€the€RuleÏthat€provides€that€the€Chief€Judge€shall€prescribe€regulationsÏand€standards.€€She€asked€what€the€result€is€if€the€Chief€JudgeÏdoes€not€take€this€action.€€Mr.€Sykes€commented€that€this€type€ofÏlanguage€is€always€directory.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€asked€what€the€difference€is€betweenÏsubsections€(a)(3)€and€(a)(4).€€Mr.€Brault€replied€that€the€firstÏone€is€the€standards€of€conduct€and€the€second€is€the€authorityÏfor€disciplinary€action.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€the€twoÐ .h)5 Ðcould€be€combined€into€one€provision.€€The€Chair€pointed€out€thatÏsome€jurisdictions,€such€as€Montgomery€County,€have€a€supervisoryÏcourt€interpreter.€€Ms.€¢Unitus£€added€that€there€is€one€in€PrinceÏGeorgeððs€County,€also.€€The€Chair€said€that€the€supervisory€courtÏinterpreter€handles€scheduling,€but€the€disciplinary€authority€isÏusually€a€matter€of€court€administration.€€Ms.€¢Unitus£€pointed€outÏthat€there€are€no€disciplinary€proceedings€to€remove€interpretersÏbecause€there€is€no€authority€to€do€so.€€The€Chair€suggested€thatÏsubsection€(a)(3)€be€deleted.€€The€Assistant€Reporter€noted€thatÏoriginally€subsections€(a)(3)€and€(a)(4)€had€been€one€provision,Ïwhich€was€then€separated.€€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€the€Rule€could€provide€thatÏthe€regulations€and€standards€may€include€a€code€of€conduct€forÏinterpreters.€€The€Chair€suggested€that€subsection€(a)(3)€read€asÏfollows:€€ð ðStandards€of€conduct€for€court€interpreters.ðð€€Mr.Ð à ÐBrault€commented€that€Rule€16„819€is€different€from€Rule€16„404,ÏAdministration€of€Circuit€Court€Reporters.€€He€suggested€that€theÏtwo€Rules€could€be€more€symmetrical.€€The€Chair€said€that€theÏMaryland€Judicial€Conference€envisioned€that€the€regulationsÏwould€be€passed€by€the€Chief€Judge€and€implemented€by€the€¢AOC£.€€ÏHe€suggested€that€in€section€(a)€the€language€which€reads€ð ðandÐ ð#@( Ðstandardsðð€be€deleted€and€in€subsection€(a)(3),€the€beginningÐ €%Ð * Ðlanguage€which€reads€ð ðDesignation€of€a€court€interpreterÐ '`", Ðsupervisory€authority,€in€accordance€with€theðð€be€deleted,€soÐ  (ð#. Ðthat€subsection€(a)(3)€would€read:€€ð ðStandards€of€conduct€forÐ 0*€%0 Ðcourt€interpreters;ðð.€€Subsection€(a)(4)€would€not€be€changed.€€Ð À+'2 ÐThe€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€these€changes.Ð P- (4 Ðà  àThe€Vice€Chair€questioned€as€to€how,€at€a€practical€level,Ïthe€¢AOC£€would€implement€the€regulations.€€Ms.€¢Unitus£€answeredÏthat€it€does€so€through€recruiting,€training,€testing,€and€skill„¼building€of€interpreters.€€Mr.€Brault€remarked€that€there€is€aÏshortage€of€interpreters.€€Ms.€¢Unitus£€responded€that€one€of€theÏproblems€is€that€no€tests€are€available€for€certain€dialects.€ÏThe€most€common€languages€requiring€interpreters€in€Maryland€areÏSpanish,€Russian,€Vietnamese,€and€Korean.€€Sometimes€people€whoÏare€bilingual€are€not€necessarily€good€court€interpreters.Ìà  àThe€Committee€approved€the€Rule€as€amended.Ìà  àThe€Chair€presented€Rule€1„303,€Form€of€Oath,€for€theÏCommitteeððs€consideration.€€ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@\ \ ìàTITLE€1€„€GENERAL€PROVISIONSˆÌÌà@l l ìàCHAPTER€300€„€GENERAL€PROVISIONSˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€1„303€to€add€a€form€of€oathÏfor€court€interpreters,€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€1-303.€€FORM€OF€OATHÌÌÌ€€û€€€(û(a)€€Generallyü€€€(üÌÌà ¸ à€€û€€€(ûExcept€as€provided€in€subsection€(b),ü€€€(üÏò ò¢Wó óû€€€(ûwü€€€(ühenever£€an€oral€oath€is€required€by€rule€orÐ €%Ð * Ðlaw,€the€person€making€oath€shall€solemnlyÏswear€or€affirm€under€the€penalties€ofÏperjury€that€the€responses€given€andÏstatements€made€will€be€the€whole€truth€andÏnothing€but€the€truth.€A€written€oath€shallÏbe€in€a€form€provided€in€Rule€1-304.€€ÌÌ€€û€€€(û(b)€€Court€Interpretersü€€€(üÌÌà ¸ à€€û€€€(ûA€court€interpreter€shall€solemnlyÏswear€or€affirm€under€the€penalties€ofÐ .h)5 Ðperjury€to€interpret€accurately,€completelyÏand€impartially,€using€the€interpreterððs€bestÏskill€and€judgment€in€accordance€with€theÏstandards€prescribed€by€the€MarylandÏJudiciary€for€legal€interpreting€orÏtranslating.ü€€€(üÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€derived€from€formerÏRules€5€c€and€21€û€€€(ûand€is€in€part€newü€€€(ü.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà0  àRule€1„303€was€accompanied€by€the€following€Reporterððs€Note.Ð (#(# ÐÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àIn€conjunction€with€the€addition€of€aÏnew€Rule€governing€court€interpreters€theÏGeneral€Court€Administration€Subcommittee€isÏproposing€amendments€to€Rule€1„303€adding€anÏoath€for€court€interpreters.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Chair€explained€that€the€Rule€adds€an€oath€forÏinterpreters.€€The€Vice€Chair€asked€why€interpreters€are€swornÏin.€€She€pointed€out€that€section€(a)€uses€the€language€ð ðwheneverÐ ¨ø Ðan€oath€is€required€by€rule€or€law...,ðð€and€she€asked€why€thereÐ 8ˆ Ðhas€to€be€a€specific€provision€for€an€unusual€situation€whenÏthere€is€already€a€general€rule.€€The€Chair€replied€that€theÏMaryland€Judicial€Conference€had€recommended€that€there€be€anÏoath€for€interpreters.€€Judge€Johnson€pointed€out€that€a€highÏpercentage€of€cases€require€interpreters.€€Oaths€are€beingÏadministered€to€the€interpreters,€but€they€are€not€uniform.€€Ms.Ï¢Unitus£€added€that€she€had€spoken€with€court€clerks€all€over€theÏstate€who€told€her€that€the€oaths€are€different€around€the€state.€Ïà  àMr.€Sykes€inquired€as€to€why€the€language€in€section€(b)Ïwhich€reads€ð ðusing€the€interpreterððs€best€skill€and€judgmentðð€hasÐ Ø'(#- Ðto€be€in€the€Rule.€€His€view€was€that€the€language€which€reads€Ð h)¸$/ Ðð ðinterpret€accurately,€completely,€and€impartiallyðð€isÐ ø*H&1 Ðsufficient.€€The€Chair€commented€that€there€may€be€a€problemÏcommunicating€with€the€witness,€and€the€interpreter€may€need€toÐ .h)5 Ðuse€his€or€her€best€skill€and€judgment.€€Mr.€Sykes€expressed€theÏopinion€that€the€language€to€which€he€is€objecting€may€actuallyÏlessen€the€interpreterððs€obligation.€€The€Reporter€pointed€outÏthat€the€translation€given€by€the€interpreter€is€not€necessarilyÏverbatim,€and€it€may€require€great€skill€and€judgment.€€The€ViceÏChair€remarked€that€the€interpretation€should€be€accurate,€butÏnot€necessarily€word€for€word.€€Mr.€Brault€added€that€someÏforeign€idioms€do€not€translate.€€Judge€Dryden€observed€that€thisÏis€especially€true€for€legal€idioms.€€One€problem€is€thatÏinterpreters€try€to€be€helpful,€and€sometimes€he€has€to€stop€themÏfrom€conversing€with€the€witness.€€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€commented€that€not€all€of€the€problems€can€beÏcured€with€a€change€in€language,€but€she€suggested€that€sectionÏ(b)€read€as€follows:€€ð ðA€court€interpreter€shall€solemnly€swearÐ P Ðor€affirm€under€the€penalties€of€perjury€to€interpret€accurately,Ïcompletely,€and€impartially.ðð€€The€Committee€agreed€by€consensusÐ  p Ðto€this€change€and€approved€the€Rule€as€amended.Ìà  àThe€Chair€thanked€Ms.€¢Unitus£€for€attending€the€meeting.Ìà  àThe€Chair€presented€Rule€16„404,€Administration€of€CourtÏReporters,€for€the€Committeeððs€consideration.€€€ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌÔ‡ X×ßXX X×ßÔà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÐ ¸$ ) ÐÌà@Œ Œ ìàTITLE€16€„€COURTS,€JUDGES,€AND€ATTORNEYSˆÌÌà@  ìàCHAPTER€400€„€ATTORNEYS,€OFFICERS€OF€COURTˆÌà@ðð"ìàAND€OTHER€PERSONSˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€16„404€to€make€it€applicableÏto€court€reporters€in€District€Court€and€toÏmake€it€gender„neutral,€as€follows:ÌÌÐ  .h)5 ÐRule€16„404.€€Administration€of€ò òCircuitó ó€CourtÐ ° ÐReporters.ÌÌ€€a.€€Establishment€of€Regulations€andÏStandards.ÌÌ€€The€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€AppealsÏshall€from€time€to€time€prescribe€regulationsÏand€standards€regarding€ò òcircuitó ó€courtÐ ð @ Ðreporters€and€the€system€of€reporting€in€theÏcourts€of€the€State.€€The€regulations€andÏstandards€may€include€provisions€relative€to:ÌÌ€€€€(1)€€The€selection,€qualificationsû€€€(û,ü€€€(ü€andÏresponsibilities€of€court€reporters;ÌÌ€€€€(2)€€Procedures€and€regulations€for€courtÏreporting;ÌÌ€€€€(3)€€Preparation,€typingû€€€(û,ü€€€(ü€and€format€ofÏtranscripts;ÌÌ€€€€(4)€€Charges€for€transcripts€and€copies;ÌÌ€€€€(5)€€Preservation€and€maintenance€ofÏreporting€notes,€however€recorded;ÌÌ€€€€(6)€€Equipment€and€supplies€utilized€inÏreporting.ÌÌ€€b.€€Number€of€Court€Reporters„„Supervisory€ÌCourt€Reporter.ÌÌ€€Each€û€€€(ûcircuitü€€€(ü€court€shall€have€the€number€ofÏcourt€reporters€recommended€by€the€CountyÏAdministrative€Judge€and€approved€by€theÏChief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals.€€In€aÏcounty€with€more€than€one€court€reporter€theÏCounty€Administrative€Judge€shall€designateÏone€as€supervisory€court€reporter,€to€serveÏat€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€pleasure€û€€€(ûof€the€CountyÐ ð#@( ÐAdministrative€Judgeü€€€(ü.€€The€Chief€Judge€of€theÏCourt€of€Appeals€shall€prescribe€the€dutiesÏof€the€supervisory€court€reporter.ÌÌ€€c.€€Supervision€of€Court€Reporters.ÌÌ€€Subject€to€the€general€supervision€of€theÏChief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€and€toÏthe€direct€supervision€of€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€CircuitÐ ø*H&1 ÐAdministrative€Judge,€the€CountyÏAdministrative€Judge€shall€have€theÏsupervisory€responsibility€for€the€û€€€(ûcircuitü€€€(üÏcourt€reporters€in€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûthatü€€€(ü€county.€€TheÐ .h)5 ÐCounty€Administrative€Judge€may€delegateÏsupervisory€responsibility€to€the€supervisoryÏcourt€reporter,€including€the€assignment€ofÏcourt€reporters€to€attend€the€record€at€eachÏsession€of€the€court€and€every€otherÏproceeding€as€provided€in€this€Rule€or€byÏorder€of€the€court.ÌÌ€€d.€€Methods€of€Reporting„„Proceedings€to€Be€ÌRecorded.ÌÌ€€Each€û€€€(ûcircuitü€€€(ü€court€reporter€assigned€toÏrecord€a€proceeding€shall€record€verbatim€byÏshorthand,€¢stenotype£,€mechanical€orÏelectronic€sound€recording€methods,€or€anyÏcombination€of€these€methods,€subject€toÏregulations€and€standards€prescribed€by€theÏChief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals.ÌÌ€€€€1.€€Criminal€Cases.ÌÌ€€€€€€(a)€€Trial€on€Merits€Other€thanÏDistrict€Court€Appeals.ÌÌ€€In€criminal€cases,€other€than€appeals€fromÏthe€District€Court,€the€entire€trial€on€theÏmerits€held€in€open€court,€including€openingÏstatements€and€closing€arguments€of€counsel;ÌÌ€€€€€€(b)€€Appeals€from€District€Court.ÌÌ€€In€appeals€from€the€District€Court,€uponÏspecific€request€of€the€judge€or€a€party,€theÏentire€trial€on€the€merits€held€in€openÏcourt,€including€opening€statements€andÏclosing€arguments€of€counsel;ÌÌ€€€€€€(c)€€Motions€and€Other€Proceedings.ÌÌ€€Upon€specific€request€of€the€judge€or€aÏparty€the€entire€or€any€designated€part€ofÏthe€hearing€on€all€motions€or€otherÏproceedings€before€the€court.ÌÌ€€€€2.€€Civil€Cases.ÌÌ€€€€€€(a)€€Trial€on€Merits€Other€thanÏDistrict€Court€Appeals.ÌÌ€€In€civil€cases,€other€than€appeals€òòde€novoóóÐ ø*H&1 Ðfrom€the€District€Court,€the€entire€trial€onÏthe€merits€held€in€open€court,€excludingÏopening€statements€and€closing€arguments€ofÏcounsel€unless€requested€by€the€judge€or€aÐ @.)5 Ðparty;ÌÌ€€€€€€(b)€€òòDe€Novoóó€Appeals€from€DistrictÐ @ ÐCourt.ÌÌ€€In€appeals€òòde€novoóó€from€the€District€Court,Ð À Ðupon€specific€request€of€the€judge€or€aÏparty,€the€entire€trial€on€the€merits€held€inÏopen€court,€including,€if€requested€openingÏstatements€and€closing€arguments€of€counsel;ÌÌ€€€€€€(c)€€Motions€and€Other€Proceedings.ÌÌ€€Upon€specific€request€of€the€judge€or€aÏparty,€the€entire€or€any€designated€part€ofÏthe€hearing€on€all€motions€or€otherÏproceedings€before€the€court.ÌÌ€€e.€€Maintenance€and€Filing€ofÏAdministrative€Records.ÌÌ€€The€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€mayÏprescribe€procedures€for€the€maintenance€andÏfiling€of€administrative€records€and€reportsÏwith€the€Administrative€Office€of€the€CourtsÏand€the€Circuit€Administrative€Judge.ÌÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€former€Rule€1224.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà0  àRule€16„404€was€accompanied€by€the€following€ReporterððsÐ (#(# ÐÌNote.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àThe€General€Court€AdministrationÏSubcommittee€is€proposing€to€amend€Rule€16„¼404,€so€that€section€a€is€applicable€to€courtÏreporters€in€the€District€Court,€a€suggestionÏmade€by€Chief€Judge€Bell.€€The€SubcommitteeÏis€also€proposing€changes€to€the€Rule€to€makeÏit€gender„neutral€and€to€add€two€commas.ÌÔ#† X×ßXX X×ß×_#ÔÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Chair€explained€that€the€Honorable€Robert€M.€Bell,€ChiefÏJudge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals,€had€been€concerned€that€Rule€16„¼404€should€be€made€applicable€to€court€reporters€in€the€DistrictÏCourt.€€The€change€was€driven€by€the€Americans€with€DisabilitiesÏAct€(ADA),€which€allows€for€court€reporters€in€District€Court€toÏassist€the€parties€and€witnesses€under€certain€circumstances.€Ð h.¸)5 ÐThe€Honorable€Martha€F.€¢Rasin£,€Chief€Judge€of€the€District€CourtÏof€Maryland,€had€requested€that€the€Rule€clarify€that€onlyÏsection€a.€is€applicable€to€the€District€Court€as€well€as€theÏcircuit€court.€€The€changes€suggested€by€the€General€CourtÏAdministration€Subcommittee€are€highlighted.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€commented€that€since€section€b.€only€appliesÏto€the€circuit€court,€the€¢tagline£€should€state€this.€€Mr.€SykesÏadded€that€this€is€true€for€section€c.€as€well.€€The€Vice€ChairÏsaid€that€she€had€never€seen€a€court€reporter€in€District€Court.€ÏJudge€Vaughan€responded€that€there€are€occasions€when€a€reporterÏis€brought€in.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€there€be€a€separateÏsection€pertaining€to€the€District€Court.€€The€Reporter€explainedÏthat€this€was€originally€drafted€as€a€separate€rule,€but€theÏSubcommittee€had€changed€it€to€be€part€of€Rule€16„404.€€The€ChairÏnoted€that€the€Rule€could€be€read€in€conjunction€with€Rule€16„¼504.€€The€Vice€Chair€stated€that€the€Style€Subcommittee€canÏreorganize€it.€€She€pointed€out€that€in€section€c.,€the€firstÏsentence€provides€that€the€Chief€Judge€and€the€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge€have€supervisory€authority€over€the€CountyÏAdministrative€Judge.€€Mr.€Brault€said€that€this€is€correct.€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€pointed€out€that€subsection€d.€1.(c)€providesÏthat€hearings€on€motions€are€recorded€upon€specific€request€ofÏthe€judge€or€a€party.€€This€is€a€significant€trap€for€attorneys,Ïwho€may€expect€that€when€they€argue€a€motion,€a€record€of€theÏargument€automatically€would€be€made,€without€anyone€making€aÏrequest.€€Asking€for€the€motion€to€be€heard€on€the€record€putsÏthe€attorney€in€an€awkward€position,€implying€to€the€judge€thatÐ P- (4 Ðthe€attorney€plans€to€appeal.€€Motions€should€be€heardÏautomatically€on€the€record.€€Mr.€Brault€observed€that€someÏproceedings€are€handled€in€the€judgeððs€chambers.€€Mr.€SykesÏremarked€that€a€court€reporter€could€be€brought€in.€€Judge€KaplanÏsaid€that€this€provision€is€not€a€major€problem.€€Mr.€BraultÏagreed€that€the€provision€may€create€a€trap.€€He€noted€that€inÏthe€Circuit€Court€for€Montgomery€County,€there€are€no€live€courtÏreporters.€€To€be€recorded,€the€proceeding€must€be€conducted€in€aÏcourtroom€where€there€is€a€recording€device.€€Ìà  àThe€Chair€suggested€that€the€Rule€could€provide€thatÏeverything€is€recorded,€except€by€agreement€of€the€parties.€€€ÏThe€Vice€Chair€pointed€out€that€the€same€change€should€be€made€inÏsubsection€d.€2.(b),€òòDeóó€òòNovoóó€Appeals€from€District€Court.€€€Ð pÀ ÐJudge€Dryden€remarked€that€these€are€always€on€the€record.€€TheÏChair€pointed€out€that€in€criminal€cases€in€subsection€d.€1.,Ïthere€is€no€automatic€right€of€appeal,€but€someone€can€petitionÏfor€òòcertiorarióó.€€A€record€of€the€hearing€should€be€made.€€TheÐ °  Ðsame€change€with€the€language€ð ðexcept€upon€agreement€of€theÐ @" Ðpartiesðð€could€be€added€to€subsection€d.€1.€€Judge€DrydenÐ Ð $ Ðsuggested€that€the€Rule€could€provide€that€all€hearings€in€openÏcourt€are€to€be€recorded.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€observed€that€subsection€d.€1.€could€beÏredrafted€as€one€provision€which€would€state€that€appeals€fromÏthe€District€Court,€criminal€or€civil,€are€always€on€the€record.€€ÏThere€would€be€no€exception€for€the€partiesðð€agreement€inÏsubsection€1.(a).€€The€Chair€reiterated€that€in€criminal€cases,Ïthe€entire€trial€would€be€recorded,€and€Mr.€Brault€added€that€inÐ P- (4 Ðcivil€cases,€the€entire€trial€would€be€recorded.€€The€Vice€ChairÏsaid€that€motions€and€other€proceedings€would€be€recorded€unlessÏthe€parties€agree€otherwise.€€Ìà  àThe€Chair€observed€that€all€criminal€cases€would€beÏrecorded.€€As€for€the€civil€cases,€if€the€appeal€is€on€the€recordÏfrom€the€District€Court,€there€is€no€need€to€record.€€It€would€beÏappropriate€to€provide€in€subsection€d.€2.(a)€that€the€recordingÏis€upon€the€request€of€the€parties.€€The€Vice€Chair€expressed€theÏview€that€it€should€be€on€the€record.€€The€Chair€pointed€out€thatÏthere€is€no€right€to€appeal,€only€a€chance€to€request€òòcertiorarióóÐ À Ðbased€on€the€District€Court€record.€€Mr.€Brault€suggested€thatÏthe€Rule€should€be€simplified€and€provide€that€everything€in€openÏcourt,€both€criminal€and€civil,€is€recorded€except€upon€agreementÏof€the€parties.€€The€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€Mr.ÏBraultððs€suggestion.Ìà  àJudge€Kaplan€commented€that€in€earlier€days,€the€chambersÏjudge€in€Baltimore€City€had€no€court€reporter.€€Most€of€theÏmotions€heard€were€not€on€the€record,€unless€it€was€requestedÏfive€days€in€advance.€€There€were€not€enough€court€reporters€toÏput€all€proceedings€on€the€record.€€Now€there€are€27€courtroomsÏand€chambers€with€video€recording€capabilities.Ìà  àThe€Chair€suggested€that€section€e.€be€moved€to€theÏbeginning€of€the€Rule.€€The€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€thisÏsuggestion.òòò òÐ  (ð#. Ðà  àó óóóMr.€Sykes€noted€that€section€a.€would€apply€to€the€OrphansððÐ 0*€%0 ÐCourt.€€The€Chair€said€that€he€did€not€know€of€the€standards€orÏregulations€in€the€Orphansðð€Court.€€However,€section€a.€empowersÐ P- (4 Ðthe€Chief€Judge€to€prescribe€any€regulations€or€standards,€andÏthis€would€include€regulations€and€standards€applicable€to€theÏOrphansðð€Court.€€Judge€Kaplan€remarked€that€the€Orphansðð€Court€inÏBaltimore€City€has€video€recording.€€Mr.€Sykes€observed€that€theÏOrphanððs€Court€is€a€court€of€record,€whether€or€not€there€is€aÏrecord.€Ìà  àThe€Committee€approved€Rule€16„404,€as€amended.Ìà  àThe€Chair€presented€Rule€16„504,€Recording€of€Proceedings,Ïfor€the€Committeeððs€consideration.€€€ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@Œ Œ ìàTITLE€16€„€COURTS,€JUDGES,€AND€ATTORNEYSˆÌÌà@` ` ìàCHAPTER€500€„€COURT€ADMINISTRATION€„€DISTRICTˆÌà@„„'ìà€COURTˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€16„504€to€make€it€applicableÏto€court€reporters€in€the€District€Court€andÏto€videotape€recording€of€District€CourtÏproceedings,€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€16-504.€Recording€of€proceedings.ÌÌ€€a.€€Recording.ÌÌà ¸ à€All€trials€and€hearings€before€a€judgeÏor€examiner€shall€be€recorded€verbatim€eitherÏstenographically€or€by€an€electronicÏrecording€device€provided€by€the€court,€andÏthe€recording€shall€be€filed€among€the€courtÏrecords.€û€€€(ûPersons€recording€stenographicallyÏshall€comply€with€the€requirements€set€forthÏin€Rule€16„404€a.€€The€Chief€Judge€of€theÏDistrict€Court€may€authorize€the€use,Ïprocedures,€and€technology€for€the€recordingÏby€videotape€of€proceedings.ü€€€(üÌÌ€€b.€€Access€to€Recording.ÌÌà ¸ à€If€a€proceeding€is€recorded€by€soundÏrecording€device,€a€party€to€the€proceedingÏshall€have€access€to€the€sound€recording€forÐ .h)5 Ðthe€purpose€of€having€the€recording€replayedÏor€transcribed,€subject€to€such€proceduresÏand€regulations€as€the€Chief€Judge€of€theÏDistrict€Court€of€Maryland€may€prescribe.€€ÌÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€former€¢M.D.R.£€1224.€€ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà0  àRule€16„504€was€accompanied€by€the€following€ReporterððsÐ (#(# ÐÌNote.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àThe€General€Court€AdministrationÏSubcommittee€is€proposing€to€amend€Rule€16„¼504€to€adopt€Chief€Judge€Bellððs€suggestionÏthat€reporters€in€the€District€Court€beÏsubject€to€regulations€just€as€circuit€courtÏreporters€are.€€Rule€16„404€a€would€apply€toÏcourt€reporters€who€are€making€an€officialÏrecord€in€the€District€Court€or€who€areÏmaking€a€record€to€assist€hearing€impairedÏpersons,€but€it€would€not€apply€to€DistrictÏCourt€employees€who€are€involved€in€theÏrecording€or€transcribing€process.€€ÌÌà ¸ àThe€Subcommittee€is€also€proposing€newÏlanguage€which€would€comply€with€Chief€JudgeÏBellððs€suggestion€to€provide€in€the€Rules€forÏthe€videotape€recording€of€proceedings€in€theÏDistrict€Court,€since€this€technology€may€beÏextended€to€the€District€Court€at€some€time.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Chair€explained€that€Chief€Judge€Bell€had€suggested€thatÏcourt€reporters€in€the€District€Court€be€subject€to€regulationÏjust€as€circuit€court€reporters€are.€€The€Vice€Chair€asked€aboutÏthe€meaning€of€the€first€proposed€new€sentence.€€The€ChairÏreplied€that€this€relates€to€the€situation€in€which€a€party€or€aÏwitness€in€District€Court€has€a€disability,€including€loss€ofÏvision€or€hearing,€and€needs€assistance,€such€as€real„timeÏreporting.€€The€Vice€Chair€inquired€as€to€whether€this€appliesÏonly€in€the€District€Court.€€The€Chair€responded€that€Chief€JudgeÏ¢Rasin£€wanted€express€authority€with€respect€to€videotaping.€€TheÏVice€Chair€remarked€that€Chief€Judge€Bell€could€grant€her€thisÐ .h)5 Ðauthority€without€the€necessity€of€a€Rule€change.€€The€proposedÏnew€language€conflicts€with€the€first€sentence€of€the€Rule,€andÏthere€is€no€sense€of€compliance€with€the€Americans€WithÏDisabilities€Act€(ð ðADAðð).€€The€Chair€noted€that€the€firstÐ ` ° Ðsentence€of€the€proposed€additional€language€causes€no€harm.€€TheÏReporter€commented€that€Title€16€has€not€yet€been€revised,€andÏthe€Rules€in€Chapter€500€apply€only€to€the€District€CourtÌà  àThe€Chair€said€that€Chief€Judge€¢Rasin£ððs€concern€was€that€theÏADA€procedures€supersede€existing€rules.€€The€second€additionalÏsentence€of€section€a.€relates€to€an€issue€that€came€before€theÏCriminal€Subcommittee.€€In€Baltimore€City,€there€is€video„¼conferencing€of€initial€appearances.€€The€Chief€Judge€of€theÏDistrict€Court€has€the€express€authority€to€regulate€theÏtechnology€employed€to€videotape€station€house€conferences.€€Mr.ÏSykes€questioned€whether€a€District€Court€judge€is€prohibitedÏfrom€allowing€videotaping€if€the€Chief€Judge€does€not€authorizeÏit.€€Judge€Vaughan€answered€that€allowing€the€videotaping€wouldÏbe€at€the€judgeððs€peril.€€The€Chair€observed€that,€althoughÏarguably€there€is€no€need€for€the€proposed€language,€Chief€JudgeÏ¢Rasin£€would€like€it€to€be€added€to€the€Rule,€and€it€causes€noÏharm.€€Ìà  àMr.€Sykes€suggested€that€the€second€proposed€sentence€beÏreorganized,€so€that€it€would€read€as€follows:€€ð ðNo€use,Ð '`", Ðprocedures,€and€technology€for€the€recording€by€videotape€ofÏproceedings€shall€be€used€in€District€Court,€except€upon€theÏauthority€of€the€Chief€Judge.ðð€€The€Chair€expressed€the€opinionÐ À+'2 Ðthat€the€Rule€should€use€the€language€ð ðThe€Chief€Judge€mayÐ P- (4 Ðauthorizeðð€to€avoid€the€danger€that€a€proceeding€may€be€invalidÐ ° Ðbecause€the€Chief€Judge€did€not€authorize€it.€€Mr.€Sykes€asked€ifÏthe€language€should€be:€€ð ðThe€Chief€Judge€shall€authorize...ðð.€€Ð Ð  ÐJudge€Dryden€replied€that€it€is€better€to€leave€it€as€ð ðmayÐ ` ° Ðauthorize.ðð€Ð ð @ Ðà  àMr.€Klein€commented€that€video€recording€should€not€beÏlimited€to€using€tapes.€€Other€means€of€recording€exist,Ïincluding€digital€disc€drives.€€Judge€Vaughan€remarked€thatÏdigital€disc€drives€are€already€being€used€in€the€District€Court.€ÏThe€Chair€suggested€that€the€order€of€the€proposed€two€newÏsentences€be€reversed.€€He€asked€if€there€are€examiners€in€theÏDistrict€Court.€€Judge€Vaughan€answered€that€there€are€noÏexaminers€in€the€District€Court,€and€he€suggested€that€the€wordsÐ pÀ Ðð ðor€examinerðð€be€deleted€from€the€first€sentence€of€section€a.€Ð P ÐThe€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€this€suggestion.€€Ìà  àMr.€Howell€noted€that€the€second€sentence€refers€only€toÏrecording€stenographically,€but€the€first€sentence€refers€toÏstenographic€and€electronic€recording.€€Judge€Kaplan€suggestedÏthat€the€word€ð ðvideotapeðð€be€changed€to€ð ðvideo,ðð€eliminating€theÐ Ð $ Ðword€ð ðtape.ðð€€The€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€this€change.€Ð `"°& ÐThe€Chair€observed€that€someone€recording€proceedingsÏstenographically€should€comply€with€whatever€regulations€areÏprescribed€by€the€Chief€Judge.€€The€Reporter€suggested€thatÏinstead€of€the€proposed€sentence€which€provides€that€personsÏrecording€stenographically€shall€comply€with€the€requirements€setÏforth€in€Rule€16„404€a.,€a€cross€reference€to€Rule€16„404€a.Ïshould€be€added€to€Rule€16„504.€€The€Committee€agreed€byÐ P- (4 Ðconsensus€to€this€suggestion.€€The€Chair€stated€that€the€proposedÏfirst€sentence€will€be€deleted,€and€the€other€proposed€sentenceÏwill€substitute€the€language€ð ðvideo€recordingðð€for€the€languageÐ Ð  Ðð ðrecording€by€videotape.ðð€€The€cross€reference€to€Rule€16„404€a.Ð ` ° Ðwill€be€added€to€the€end€of€section€b.€Ìà  àMr.€Howell€inquired€if€the€rule€pertaining€to€videoÏrecording€impacts€section€b.€which€refers€to€a€sound€recordingÏdevice.€€The€Chair€replied€that€it€does€not€impact€section€b.€ÏThe€first€sentence€of€section€a.€pertains€to€recording€devicesÏprovided€by€the€court.€€Judge€Johnson€pointed€out€that€anÏelectronic€recording€device€includes€both€audio€and€video.€€TheÏVice€Chair€said€that€the€first€sentence€of€section€a.€allows€forÏvideotaping.€€The€Chair€expressed€his€concern€that€someone€mayÏargue€that€it€does€not.€€This€is€necessary€for€compliance€withÏthe€ADA.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€a€Committee€note€be€addedÏwhich€would€provide€that€ð ðelectronic€recording€is€intended€toÐ  p Ðinclude€video€recording,€and€the€Chief€Judge€may€authorize€it.ðð€€Ð °  ÐThe€Chair€responded€that€Chief€Judge€¢Rasin£€may€not€agree€withÏthis,€because€she€would€like€the€express€authority€in€the€Rule.€€Ìà  àThe€Chair€questioned€whether€section€b.€should€be€modifiedÏor€whether€the€Style€Subcommittee€should€work€on€it.€€WithÏrespect€to€a€recording€done€on€an€electronic€device€provided€byÏthe€court,€the€parties€have€a€right€to€have€the€recordingÏreplayed€or€transcribed,€subject€to€the€procedures€and€regulationÏwhich€the€Chief€Judge€of€the€District€Court€may€prescribe.€€€ÏJudge€Johnson€asked€if€the€intent€of€the€Rule€is€that€if€it€is€aÏvideo€recording,€the€parties€do€not€have€a€right€to€have€theÐ P- (4 Ðrecording€replayed€or€transcribed.€€The€Chair€answered€that€¢that£Ïis€not€the€intent€of€the€Rule.€€Judge€Vaughan€suggested€that€theÏword€ð ðsoundðð€be€deleted€from€section€b.€€The€Committee€agreed€byÐ Ð  Ðconsensus€to€this€change.€€The€Chair€said€that€the€Rule€isÏreferring€to€a€recording€device€provided€by€the€court.€€This€isÏconsistent€with€District€Court€practice€where€everything€isÏelectronically€recorded.€€Mr.€Hochberg€asked€if€the€tape€isÏfiled.€€Judge€Dryden€replied€that€the€tape€is€filed€separatelyÏfrom€the€case€file.€€Mr.€Klein€inquired€if€it€is€implicit€inÏsection€b.€that€there€is€no€access€to€a€stenographic€recording.€ÏThe€Chair€remarked€that€¢that£€is€the€question€for€determination.€€ÏHe€said€that€in€the€first€sentence€of€section€a.,€the€words€ð ðorÐ à0 Ðexaminerðð€will€be€taken€out.€€He€suggested€that€the€secondÐ pÀ Ðsentence€in€section€a.€be€moved€to€section€b.€€€Ìà  àMr.€Klein€inquired€as€to€whether€the€stenographic€recordingÏor€the€electronic€recording€gets€filed.€€Mr.€Sykes€answered€thatÏboth€are€filed.€€The€Chair€reiterated€that€the€court€provides€theÏelectronic€recording€device.€€Mr.€Klein€pointed€out€that€the€RuleÏprovides€that€the€recording€is€to€be€filed.€€The€Vice€ChairÏsuggested€that€the€word€ð ðelectronicðð€be€taken€out€of€the€¢tagline£.€Ð `"°& ЀElectronic€recording€includes€video€recording.€€The€Rule€couldÏbegin€as€follows:€€ð ðAll€trials€and€hearings€before€a€judge€shallÐ €%Ð * Ðbe€recorded€verbatim€either€stenographically€or€by€means€otherÏthan€video...ðð.€€Judge€Kaplan€commented€that€the€term€ð ðelectronicððÐ  (ð#. Ðis€necessary,€because€there€is€obviously€some€doubt€as€to€theÏmeaning.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€the€word€ð ðelectronicðð€beÐ À+'2 Ðchanged€to€ð ðaudio,ðð€distinguishing€what€happens€in€DistrictÐ P- (4 ÐCourt.€€The€Chair€pointed€out€that€there€are€no€stenographers€inÏDistrict€Court.€€He€suggested€taking€the€word€ð ðstenographicallyððÐ @ Ðout€of€section€a.€Ìà  àThe€Chair€said€that€there€is€a€serious€question€as€toÏwhether€if€a€stenographer€is€brought€in,€the€transcript€has€to€beÏshared€with€all€counsel.€€The€Rule€should€be€conformed€toÏDistrict€Court€practice.€€The€language€of€section€a.€would€beÐ `  Ðð ðAll€trials€and€hearings€before€a€judge€shall€be€recordedÐ  ð  Ðverbatim€by€an€audio€recording€device€provided€by€the€court,€andÏthe€recording€shall€be€filed€among€the€court€records.€€A€party€toÏthe€proceeding€shall€have€access€to€the€recording€for€the€purposeÏof€having€the€recording€replayed€or€transcribed,€unless€the€courtÏorders€otherwise.ðð€€Section€b.€would€read€as€follows:€€ð ðThe€ChiefÐ pÀ ÐJudge€of€the€District€Court€may€authorize€the€use,€procedures,Ïand€technology€for€other€recording.ðð€€The€Vice€Chair€added€thatÐ à Ðsection€a.€would€have€the€¢tagline£€ð ðAudio€Recordingðð€and€sectionÐ  p Ðb.€the€¢tagline£€ð ðOther€Recording.ðð€€The€Chair€stated€that€Rule€16„Ð °  Ð504€will€have€a€cross€reference€to€Rule€16„404,€and€Rule€16„404Ïwill€have€a€cross€reference€to€Rule€16„504.€€The€Committee€agreedÏby€consensus€to€these€changes.Ìà  àThe€Chair€presented€Rules€16„101,€2„505,€and€4„254€for€theÏCommitteeððs€consideration.€€ÌÓÓÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÔ‡ X×ßXX X×ßÔà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÐ Ø'(#- ÐÌà@È È ìàTILE€16€„€COURTS,€JUDGES,€AND€ATTORNEYSˆÌÌà@` ` ìàCHAPTER€100€„€COURT€ADMINISTRATIVE€STRUCTURE,ˆÌà@ ìàJUDICIAL€à@@$ìàDUTIES,€ETC.ˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€16„101€to€make€it€gender„Ð .h)5 Ðneutral€and€to€remove€certain€supervisoryÏduties€of€the€Circuit€Administrative€Judge€Ìover€the€County€Administrative€Judge,€asÏfollows:ÌÌÌRule€16„101.€€Administrative€Responsibility.ÌÌÌ€€€.€.€.ÌÌ€€c.€€Circuit€Administrative€Judge.ÌÌ€€€€1.€€Designation.ÌÌ€€In€each€judicial€circuit€there€shall€be€aÏCircuit€Administrative€Judgeò ò.€€Heó óû€€€(û,€whoü€€€(ü€shallÐ 0€  Ðbe€appointed€by€orderò ò,ó ó€and€serve€at€theÐ øH  Ðpleasure€of€the€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€ofÏAppealsò ò,€provided€tható óû€€€(û.€€Iü€€€(ün€the€absence€ofÐ ˆØ Ðany€such€appointment,€the€Chief€Judge€of€theÏjudicial€circuit€shall€be€the€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge.ÌÌ€€€€2.€€Duties.ÌÌ€€€€€€ò ò(a)€€Generally.ó óÐ P ÐÌ€€Each€Circuit€Administrative€Judge€shall€beÏgenerally€responsible€for€the€administrationÏof€the€several€courts€within€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€judicialÐ  p Ðcircuit,€pursuant€to€these€Rules€and€subjectÏto€the€direction€of€the€Chief€Judge€of€theÏCourt€of€Appeals.€€Each€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge€shall€also€beÏresponsible€for€the€supervision€of€the€CountyÏAdministrative€Judges€within€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€judicialÐ Ð $ Ðcircuit€and€may€perform€any€of€the€duties€ofÏa€County€Administrative€Judge.€€ò òHeó ó€û€€€(ûTheÐ `"°& ÐCircuit€Administrative€Judgeü€€€(ü€shall€also€callÏa€meeting€of€all€judges€of€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€judicialÐ ð#@( Ðcircuit€at€least€once€every€six€months.ÌÌ€€€€€€ò ò(b)€€Removed€Cases„„Approval€Authority.ó óÐ H&˜!+ ÐÌ€€ò òIn€the€interest€of€expediting€the€trial€ofÐ Ø'(#- Ða€removed€action,€criminal€cause,€or€issue,Ïand€of€equalizing€judicial€work€loads€to€theÏextent€feasible,€it€shall€be€the€duty€of€aÏjudge,€before€exercising€removal€authorityÏdesignating€a€Court€within€his€judicialÏcircuit€to€which€such€action,€criminal€cause,Ïor€issue€shall€be€removed,€to€obtain€theÏapproval€of€the€Circuit€Administrative€JudgeÐ .h)5 Ðfor€such€designation.€€It€shall€also€be€theÏduty€of€a€judge,€before€exercising€removalÏauthority€to€a€jurisdiction€without€theÏjudicial€circuit,€to€make€inquiry€of€theÏCircuit€Administrative€Judge€of€the€CircuitÏto€which€it€is€proposed€to€make€the€removalÏconcerning€the€trial€calendar€and€judicialÏwork€loads€of€any€Court€to€which€it€isÏcontemplated€the€action,€criminal€cause,€orÏissue€may€be€removed€and€to€giveÏconsideration€to€the€recommendations€of€suchÏCircuit€Administrative€Judge.€€The€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge,€in€the€interest€ofÏexpediting€the€removal€process,€may€at€anyÏtime€or€from€time€to€time€delegate€hisÏapproval€authority€under€this€Rule€to€anyÏjudge€or€judges€within€his€judicial€circuit.ó óÐ 0€  ÐÌCross€referenceò òsó ó:€€For€more€detailedÐ À Ðprovisions€pertaining€to€duties€of€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judges,€see€û€€€(ûsection€(d)€ofü€€€(üÏRule€4„344€ò ò(d)ó ó€û€€€(û(Sentencing€„„€Review)ü€€€(ü;€RuleÐ h Ð16„103€(Assignment€of€Judges);€û€€€(ûandü€€€(ü€Rule€16„¼104€(Judicial€Leave)ò ò;€Rule€16„105€(Reports€toÐ ¨ø ÐBe€Filed);€Rule€15„106€(Court€Sessions„„¼Holidays„„Time€for€Convening);€Rule€16„201€aÏ(Motion€Day).€€For€removal€in€civil€actionsÏand€criminal€causes,€see€Rules€2„505€and€4„¼254.ó óÐ à ÐÌò òCommittee€note:€€Section€c€of€this€Rule€isÐ  p Ðbased€on€portions€of€the€Court€of€AppealsÏAdministrative€and€Procedural€Regulation€ofÏJuly€17,€1967.€€Under€the€Rule,€andÏparticularly€the€portions€thereof,€dealingÏwith€the€Circuit€Administrative€Judge,€theÏChief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€is€freeÏto€appoint€any€judge€of€a€circuit,€includingÏbut€not€necessarily€limited€to€the€ChiefÏJudge€of€that€circuit,€to€be€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge.€€The€judge€soÏappointed,€even€if€he€is€not€the€Chief€JudgeÏof€the€Circuit,€exercises€the€administrativeÏpowers€granted€in€this€and€other€rules,€suchÏas€Rule€16„103,€dealing€with€assignment€ofÏjudges.€€The€intent€of€this€Rule€is€to€vestÏadministrative€power,€at€the€judicial€circuitÏlevel,€in€the€Circuit€Administrative€Judge.€ÏIn€this€regard,€it€should€be€noted€that€aÏChief€Judge€has€no€inherent€administrativeÏpower€or€authority,€with€the€exception€of€theÏright€to€preside€at€sessions€of€his€court,Ïwhen€more€than€one€judge€is€present.€€SeeÏòòBean€v.€¢Boryea£óó,€81€Cal.€151,€22€Pac.€513Ð .h)5 Ð(1889);€òòIn€re€Opinion€of€the€Justicesóó,€271Ð ° ÐMass.€575,€171€¢N.E.£€237,€240€(1930),€and€48Ï¢C.J.S.£€"Judges,"€ðð2.€€Under€this€and€otherÏrules,€the€duty€of€selecting€a€panel€forÏreview€of€criminal€sentences,€as€set€forth€inÏArticle€27,€¢ðð645JA£,€of€the€Code,€would€beÏvested€in€the€Circuit€Administrative€JudgeÏand€not€the€Chief€Judge.€€So€would€the€dutyÏof€arranging€for€a€sitting€of€the€court€enÏbanc€under€Article€IV,€ðð22,€of€theÏConstitution.€€However,€this€Rule€is€notÏintended€to€interfere€with€the€presentÏpractice€of€issuing€process€in€the€name€ofÏthe€Chief€Judge€of€a€Circuit.ó óÐ Ø(  ÐÌ€€d.€€County€Administrative€Judge.ÌÌ€€€€1.€€Designation.ÌÌ€€ò òIn€the€first€seven€judicial€circuits,€theÐ ˆØ ÐCircuit€Administrative€Judge€of€a€judicialÏcircuit€may,€from€time€to€time,€and€withÏapproval€ofó ó€û€€€(ûTü€€€(ühe€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€ofÐ à0 ÐAppealsò ò,€by€orderó ó€û€€€(ûmayü€€€(ü€appoint€a€judge€of€theÐ ¨ø ÐCircuit€Court€for€any€county€ò òwithin€hisÐ pÀ Ðjudicial€circuitó ó€to€be€County€AdministrativeÐ 8ˆ ÐJudge€of€the€Circuit€Court€for€ò òsuchó ó€û€€€(ûthatü€€€(üÐ P Ðcounty.€€A€County€Administrative€Judge€ò òmay€beÐ È Ðreplaced€by€the€Circuit€Administrative€JudgeÏof€his€circuit€with€the€approval€of€the€ChiefÏJudge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€or€byó ó€û€€€(ûshallÐ  p Ðserve€at€the€pleasure€ofü€€€(ü€the€Chief€Judge€ofÏthe€Court€of€Appeals€ò òon€his€own€motion.€€InÐ °  Ðthe€Eighth€Judicial€Circuit€the€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge€shall€have€all€theÏpowers€and€duties€of€a€County€AdministrativeÏJudgeó ó.Ð Ð $ Ðò òÌCommittee€note:€€This€is€essentially€theÏlanguage€of€Paragraph€3€of€the€July€17,€1967ÏAdministrative€and€Procedural€Regulation€ofÏthe€Court€of€Appeals,€except€that€the€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge€is€made€the€basicÏappointing€and€replacing€authority€toÏemphasize€and€reinforce€his€position€in€theÏadministrative€hierarchy.€€No€expressÏprovision€is€made€for€a€"CountyÏAdministrative€Judge"€in€any€of€the€SupremeÏBench€courts,€since€the€peculiar€organizationÏof€these€courts€and€their€present€method€ofÏfunctioning€seems€to€make€such€unnecessary.€ÏThe€Circuit€Administrative€Judge€in€theÏEighth€Judicial€Circuit€is€given€the€powersÏof€a€County€Administrative€Judge€and€pursuantÐ .h)5 Ðto€subsection€3€of€this€section€may€delegateÏportions€of€his€authority€to€other€judges€ofÏthe€Supreme€Bench.ó óÐ @ Ѐ€€Ì€€€€2.€€Duties.ÌÌ€€Subject€to€the€ò ògeneraló ó€supervision€of€theÐ ` ° ÐChief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€ò òand€toÐ ( x Ðthe€direct€supervision€of€his€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge,€particularly€withÏreference€to€assignment€of€judges€and€ofÏcasesó ó,€a€County€Administrative€Judge€shall€beÐ H ˜  Ðresponsible€for€the€administration€of€justiceÏand€for€the€administration€of€the€court€forÏò òwhich€he€is€County€Administrative€Judgeó ó€û€€€(ûthatÐ  ð  Ðcountyü€€€(ü.€€ò òHisó ó€û€€€(ûTheü€€€(ü€duties€shall€include:Ð h¸  ÐÌ€€€€€€(¢i£)€€Supervision€of€all€judgesû€€€(û,Ïofficers,€and€employeesü€€€(ü€of€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€courtò ò,€andÐ À Ðof€officers€and€employees€of€courtó ó,€includingÐ ˆØ Ðthe€authority€to€assign€judges€within€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(üÐ P  Ðcourt€pursuant€to€Rule€16„103€(Assignment€ofÏJudges).Ìû€€€(ûÌCross€reference:€€For€removal€in€civilÏactions€and€criminal€causes,€see€Rules€2„505Ïand€4„254.ü€€€(üÌÌ€€€€€€(ii)€€Supervision€and€expeditiousÏdisposition€of€cases€filed€in€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€courtò ò,ó óÐ X¨ Ðand€the€control€of€the€trial€û€€€(ûcalendarü€€€(ü€andÏother€calendars€ò òthereinó ó,€including€theÐ è8 Ðauthority€to€assign€cases€for€trial€andÏhearing€pursuant€to€Rule€16„102€(ChambersÏJudge)€and€Rule€16„202€(Assignment€of€ActionsÏfor€Trial).ÌÌ€€€€€€(iii)€€Preparation€of€the€budget€of€ò òhisó óÐ ˜!è% Ðû€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€court.ÌÌ€€€€€€(iv)€€Ordering€ò òofó ó€the€purchase€of€allÐ ð#@( Ðequipment€and€supplies€for€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€court€andÐ ¸$ ) Ðits€ancillary€services,€such€as€master,Ïauditor,€examiner,€court€administrator,€courtÏstenographer,€jury€commissioner,€staff€of€theÏmedical€and€probation€offices,€and€allÏadditional€court€personnel€other€thanÏpersonnel€comprising€the€Clerk€of€Court'sÏoffice.ÌÌ€€€€€€(v)€€Subject€to€the€approval€of€aÏmajority€of€the€judges€of€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€court,Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ðsupervision€ofò ò,ó ó€and€responsibility€forò ò,ó ó€theÐ P- (4 Ðemployment,€discharge,€and€classification€ofÐ .h)5 Ðcourt€personnel€and€personnel€of€itsÏancillary€services€and€the€maintenance€ofÏpersonnel€files.€€However,€each€judgeÏ(subject€to€budget€limitations)€shall€haveÏthe€exclusive€right€to€employ€and€dischargeÏò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûthe€judge'sü€€€(ü€personal€secretary€and€lawÐ ˜è Ðclerk.ÌÌCommittee€note:€€Article€IV,€ðð9,€of€theÏConstitution€gives€the€judges€of€any€courtÏthe€power€to€appoint€officersò ò,ó ó€andû€€€(û,ü€€€(ü€thusû€€€(û,ü€€€(üÐ € Ð  Ðrequires€joint€exercise€of€the€personnelÏpower.€€A€similar€provision€was€included€inÏthe€July€17,€1967€Administrative€andÏProcedure€regulation.ÌÌ€€€€€€(vi)€€ò òIn€general,€the€¢ió óImplementation£Ð 0€  Ðand€enforcement€of€all€policies,€rules,€andÏdirectives€of€the€Court€of€Appeals,€its€ChiefÏJudge,€û€€€(ûandü€€€(ü€the€ò òDirector€of€the€AdministrativeÐ ˆØ ÐOffice€of€the€Courtsó ó€û€€€(ûState€CourtÐ P  ÐAdministratorü€€€(ü,€ò òand€his€Circuit€AdministrativeÐ h ÐJudge,ó ó€and€ò òtheó ó€performance€of€ò òsuchó ó€û€€€(ûanyü€€€(ü€otherÐ à0 Ðduties€ò òas€may€beó ó€necessary€for€the€effectiveÐ ¨ø Ðadministration€of€the€judicial€business€ofÏò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(ü€court€and€the€prompt€disposition€ofÐ 8ˆ Ðlitigation€ò òthereinó ó.Ð P ÐÌCross€references:€€For€specific€duties€of€aÏCounty€Administrative€Judge,€see€Rule€16„102Ï(Chambers€Judge);€Rule€16„103€(Assignment€ofÏJudges);€Rule€16„201€(Motion€Day„„Calendar);Ïû€€€(ûandü€€€(ü€Rule€16„202€(Assignment€of€Actions€forÏTrial).ÌÌ€€€€3.€€Power€to€Delegate.ÌÌ€€€€€€(¢i£)€€A€County€Administrative€judgeò ò,Ð ˜!è% Ðwith€the€approval€of€his€CircuitÏAdministrative€Judge,ó ó€may€delegate€to€anyÐ (#x' Ðjudgeû€€€(û,ü€€€(ü€ò òoró ó€to€any€committee€of€judgesû€€€(û,ü€€€(ü€ò òof€hisÐ ð#@( Ðcourt,ó ó€or€to€any€officer€or€employee€ò òof€suchÐ ¸$ ) Ðcourt,€such€of€the€thoseó ó€û€€€(ûany€of€theü€€€(üÐ €%Ð * Ðresponsibilities,€duties,€and€functionsÏò òimposed€upon€himó ó€û€€€(ûof€the€County€AdministrativeÐ '`", ÐJudgeü€€€(ü€as€ò òheó ó€û€€€(ûthe€judgeü€€€(ü,€in€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûthe€judge'sü€€€(üÐ Ø'(#- Ðdiscretion,€ò òshalló ó€deemû€€€(ûsü€€€(ü€necessary€orÐ  (ð#. Ðdesirable.ÌÌ€€€€€€(ii)€€In€the€implementation€of€Code,ÏArticle€27,€ðð591€and€Rule€4„271€(a),€a€CountyÏAdministrative€Judge€may€û€€€(ûauthorizeü€€€(ü€(A)€withÏthe€approval€of€the€Chief€Judge€of€the€CourtÏof€Appeals,€ò òauthorizeó ó€one€or€more€judges€toÐ .h)5 Ðpostpone€criminal€cases€on€appeal€from€theÏDistrict€Court€or€transferred€from€theÏDistrict€Court€because€of€a€demand€for€juryÏtrial,€and€(B)€ò òauthorizeó ó€not€more€than€oneÐ X Ðjudge€at€a€time€to€postpone€all€otherÏcriminal€cases.ÌÌ€€€€4.€€Single€Judge€Counties.ÌÌ€€In€ò òanyó ó€û€€€(ûaü€€€(ü€county€ò òin€which€there€is€butó ó€û€€€(ûthatÐ ¸   Ðhas€onlyü€€€(ü€one€resident€judge€of€the€CircuitÏCourt,€ò òsuchó ó€û€€€(ûthatü€€€(ü€judge€shall€exerciseò ò,€asÐ H ˜  Ðappropriate,ó ó€the€power€and€authority€of€aÐ `  ÐCounty€Administrative€Judge.Ìò òÌComment.„„In€general,€section€d€(CountyÏAdministrative€Judge)€is€based€upon€the€CourtÏof€Appeals€Administrative€and€ProceduralÏRegulation€of€July€17,€1967.€€Authority€forÏthe€Rule€is€derived€from€Article€IV,€ðð18,€ofÏthe€Constitution,€designating€the€Chief€JudgeÏof€the€Court€of€Appeals€as€administrativeÏhead€of€the€judicial€system€and€grantingÏgeneral€rule„making€and€assignment€power;€theÏgrant€of€administrative€rule„making€authorityÏcontained€in€Chapter€444,€Acts€of€1966,€theÏprovisions€of€Chapter€468,€Acts€of€1968,Ïdealing€with€the€distribution€of€judicialÏwork€loads€and€vacations;€the€provisions€ofÏ¢CJ£€ðð1„201,€of€the€Code€dealing€with€rule„¼making€power€of€the€judges€of€the€severalÏcourts€of€the€State;€and€the€inherent€powerÏof€courts€to€prescribe€rules€to€effectuateÏthe€administration€of€justice,€including€theÏinherent€power€of€superior€courts€to€regulateÏinferior€courts;€see,€e.g.,€òòPetite€v.€EstateÐ  X# Ðof€¢Papachrist£óó,€219€Md.€173,€148€A.2d€377Ð Ð $ Ð(1959);€¢Annots£.,€"Power€of€Court€to€PrescribeÏRules€of€Pleadings,€Practice€and€Procedure,"Ï110€¢A.L.R.£€22€(1937);€158€¢A.L.R.£€705€(1945);Ï¢Dowling£,€òòThe€Inherent€Power€of€the€Judiciaryóó,Ð ð#@( Ð21€¢A.B.A.J.£€835€(1935);€Pound,€òòProcedureÐ ¸$ ) ÐUnder€Rules€of€Court€in€New€Jerseyóó,€66€¢Harv£.Ð €%Ð * ÐL.€Rev.€28€(1952).ó óÐ H&˜!+ ÐÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€former€Rule€1200.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àRule€16„101€was€accompanied€by€the€following€ReporterððsÌÌNote.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àThis€Rule€is€proposed€to€be€amended€toÏmake€it€gender„neutral,€to€delete€outdatedÐ .h)5 ÐCommittee€notes€and€cross€references,€and€toÏremove€some€of€the€supervisory€duties€of€theÏCircuit€Administrative€Judge€over€the€CountyÏAdministrative€Judge.ÌÔ#† X×ßXX X×ß+»#ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@A A ìàTITLE€2€„€CIVIL€PROCEDURE€ð"ð€CIRCUIT€COURTˆÐ 0€  ÐÌà@xx!ìàCHAPTER€500€„€TRIALˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€2„505€to€provide€that€theÏCircuit€Administrative€Judge€may€designate€aÏcounty€to€which€a€case€is€to€be€removed,€asÌfollows:ÌÌÌRule€2„505.€€REMOVALÌÌ€€(a)€€GroundsÌÌ€€€€(1)€€PrejudiceÌÌà ¸ à€€€€In€any€action€that€is€subject€toÏremoval,€and€on€issues€from€the€Orphans'ÏCourt,€any€party€may€file€a€motion€forÏremoval€accompanied€by€an€affidavit€allegingÏthat€the€party€cannot€receive€a€fair€andÏimpartial€trial€in€the€county€in€which€theÏaction€is€pending.€€If€the€court€finds€thatÏthere€is€reasonable€ground€to€believe€thatÏthe€allegation€is€correct,€it€shall€orderÏthat€the€action€be€removed€for€trial€to€aÏcourt€of€another€county.€€Any€party,Ïincluding€a€party€who€has€obtained€removal,Ïmay€obtain€further€removal€pursuant€to€thisÏRule.€€ÌÌ€€€€(2)€€Disqualification€of€all€JudgesÌÌà ¸ à€€€€In€any€action€in€which€all€theÏjudges€of€the€court€of€any€county€areÏdisqualified€to€sit€by€the€provisions€of€theÏMaryland€Constitution,€any€party,€uponÐ .h)5 Ðmotion,€shall€have€the€right€of€removal€ofÏthe€action€to€a€court€of€another€county€or,Ïif€the€action€is€not€removable,€the€right€toÏhave€a€judge€of€a€court€of€another€countyÏpreside€in€the€action.€€ÌÌ€€(b)€û€€€(ûDesignation€of€Court€andü€€€(ü€Transmittal€ofÏRecordÌÌà ¸ à€€û€€€(ûThe€Circuit€Administrative€Judge€ofÏthe€court€ordering€removal€shall€designateÏthe€county€to€which€the€case€is€to€beÏremoved.ü€€€(ü€€When€the€court€orders€that€theÏaction€be€removed€for€trial€to€a€court€ofÏanother€county,€the€clerk€shall€transmit€theÏrecord€to€that€court€within€five€days€fromÏentry€of€the€order,€unless€the€court€orderingÏthe€removal€extends€the€time.€€The€recordÏshall€consist€of€all€the€original€papersÏfiled€in€the€action€and€a€copy€of€the€docketÏentries.€€ÌÌ€€(c)€€Striking€the€Order€of€RemovalÌÌà ¸ à€€Before€the€record€has€actually€beenÏtransmitted,€the€court,€on€motion€of€theÏparty€who€obtained€the€order€of€removal,€mayÏvacate€the€order.€€ÌÌ€€(d)€€Order€by€Court€to€Which€RemovedÌÌà ¸ à€€The€court€to€which€an€action€has€beenÏremoved€may€issue€a€warrant€of€resurvey€orÏother€process€to€the€sheriff,€surveyor,€orÏother€officer€of€the€county€from€which€theÏaction€has€been€removed.€€ÌÌ€€(e)€€Return€of€Papers€to€Original€CourtÌÌà ¸ à€€Within€five€days€after€finalÏdisposition€of€the€action,€including€allÏappeals,€the€clerk€shall€transmit€all€papersÏin€the€action€and€a€copy€of€the€docketÏentries€to€the€court€from€which€the€actionÏwas€first€removed.€€ÌÌCross€reference:€€For€limitations€on€theÏconstitutional€right€of€removal€inÏcondemnation€cases,€see€òòMayor€and€CityÐ 0*€%0 ÐCouncil€of€Baltimore€v.€Kaneóó,€125€Md.€135Ð ø*H&1 Ð(1915)€and€òòMayor€and€City€Council€ofÐ À+'2 ÐBaltimore€v.€¢Libowitz£óó,€159€Md.€28€(1930).€€Ð ˆ,Ø'3 ÐÌÐ  .h)5 ÐSource:€€This€Rule€is€derived€as€follows:€€Ì€€Section€(a)€€is€derived€from€former€RuleÏ542€a€1€and€2.€€Ì€€Section€(b)€€is€derived€from€former€RuleÏ542€c€1€and€4.€€Ì€€Section€(c)€€is€derived€from€former€RuleÏ542€d€1.€€Ì€€Section€(d)€€is€derived€from€former€RuleÏ542€g.€€Ì€€Section€(e)€€is€derived€from€former€RuleÏ542€¢i£.€€ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àRule€2„505€was€accompanied€by€the€following€Reporterððs€Note.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àThe€General€Court€AdministrationÏSubcommittee€is€recommending€the€addition€ofÏlanguage€to€Rule€2„505€to€provide€a€procedureÏfor€removal€of€a€case€to€another€county.€€TheÏRules€Committee€had€recommended€the€deletionÏof€subsection€c€2€b€of€Rule€16„101€whichÏpertained€to€approval€authority€of€removal€ofÏcases,€and€the€Style€Subcommittee€hadÏexpressed€the€opinion€that€deletion€of€thisÏprovision€left€a€gap€in€the€removalÏprocedure.€€The€proposed€change€is€to€bridgeÏthat€gap.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@ìàTITLE€4€„€CRIMINAL€CAUSESˆÌÌà@0 0 ìàCHAPTER€200€„€PRETRIAL€PROCEDURESˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€4„254€to€provide€that€theÏCircuit€Administrative€Judge€may€designate€aÏcounty€to€which€a€case€is€to€be€removed,€asÌfollows:ÌÌÌRule€4„254.€€REASSIGNMENT€AND€REMOVALÌÌÌ€€(a)€€Reassignment€in€District€CourtÌÌà ¸ à€€The€reassignment€of€a€criminal€actionÐ .h)5 Ðpending€in€the€District€Court€shall€beÏgoverned€by€the€provisions€of€Rule€3-505.€€€€ÌÌ€€(b)€€Removal€in€Circuit€CourtsÌ€€Ì€€€€(1)€€Capital€CasesÌÌà ¸ à€€€€When€a€defendant€is€charged€with€anÏoffense€for€which€the€maximum€penalty€isÏdeath€and€either€party€files€a€suggestionÏunder€oath€that€the€party€cannot€have€a€fairÏand€impartial€trial€in€the€court€in€which€theÏaction€is€pending,€the€court€shall€order€thatÏthe€action€be€transferred€for€trial€toÏanother€court€having€jurisdiction.€€û€€€(ûTheÏCircuit€Administrative€Judge€of€the€courtÏordering€removal€shall€designate€the€countyÏto€which€the€case€is€to€be€removed.ü€€€(ü€€AÏsuggestion€by€a€defendant€shall€be€under€theÏdefendant's€personal€oath.€€A€suggestionÏfiled€by€the€State€shall€be€under€the€oath€ofÏthe€State's€Attorney.€€ÌÌ€€€€(2)€€Non-capital€CasesÌÌà ¸ à€€€€When€a€defendant€is€charged€with€anÏoffense€for€which€the€maximum€penalty€is€notÏdeath€and€either€party€files€a€suggestionÏunder€oath€that€the€party€cannot€have€a€fairÏand€impartial€trial€in€the€court€in€which€theÏaction€is€pending,€the€court€shall€order€thatÏthe€action€be€transferred€for€trial€toÏanother€court€having€jurisdiction€only€if€itÏis€satisfied€that€the€suggestion€is€true€orÏthat€there€is€reasonable€ground€for€it.€û€€€(ûTheÏCircuit€Administrative€Judge€of€the€courtÏordering€removal€shall€designate€the€countyÏto€which€the€case€is€to€be€removed.ü€€€(ü€€A€partyÏwho€has€obtained€one€removal€may€obtainÏfurther€removal€pursuant€to€this€section.€€ÌÌ€€€€(3)€€Transfer€of€Case€File€-€TrialÌÌà ¸ à€€€€Upon€the€filing€of€an€order€forÏremoval,€the€clerk€shall€transmit€the€caseÏfile€and€a€certified€copy€of€the€docketÏentries€to€the€clerk€of€the€court€to€whichÏthe€action€is€transferred€and€the€actionÏshall€proceed€as€if€originally€filed€there.€ÏAfter€final€disposition€of€the€action,€theÏclerk€shall€return€a€certified€copy€of€theÏdocket€entries€to€the€clerk€of€the€court€inÏwhich€the€action€was€originally€institutedÏfor€entry€on€the€docket€as€final€dispositionÐ .h)5 Ðof€the€charges.€€ÌÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€derived€as€follows:€€Ì€€Section€(a)€is€derived€from€former€¢M.D.R.£Ï744.€€Ì€€Section€(b)€is€derived€from€former€RuleÏ744.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àRule€4„254€was€accompanied€by€the€following€Reporterððs€Note.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àThe€General€Court€AdministrationÏSubcommittee€is€recommending€the€addition€ofÏlanguage€to€Rule€4„254€to€provide€a€procedureÏfor€removal€of€a€case€to€another€county.€€TheÏRules€Committee€has€recommended€the€deletionÏof€subsection€c€2€b€of€Rule€16„101€whichÏpertained€to€approval€authority€of€removal€ofÏcases,€and€the€Style€Subcommittee€hadÏexpressed€the€opinion€that€deletion€of€thisÏprovision€left€a€gap€in€the€removalÏprocedure.€€The€proposed€change€is€to€bridgeÏthe€gap.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Chair€explained€that€Rule€16„101€had€been€sent€to€theÏStyle€Subcommittee€who€had€remanded€it€to€the€Subcommittee€forÏfurther€work.€€The€Subcommittee€reviewed€the€Rule,€looking€alsoÏat€Rules€2„505€and€4„254.€€Rule€16„101€contained€materialÏpertaining€to€removal,€but€it€never€solved€the€problem€of€a€judgeÏrefusing€to€accept€a€case€from€another€county.€€The€proposal€toÏresolve€this€problem€is€to€refer€to€the€removal€procedures€inÏRules€2„505€and€4„254.€€These€Rules€are€proposed€to€be€changed€toÏprovide€that€the€Circuit€Administrative€Judge€of€the€courtÏordering€removal€shall€designate€the€county€to€which€the€case€isÏto€be€removed.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€the€StyleÏSubcommittee€look€at€Rule€2„505.€€The€Chair€agreed,€commentingÏthat€the€Rule€should€not€be€silent€as€to€the€procedure€if€oneÏjudge€sends€a€case€to€another€county,€and€the€judge€in€thatÏcounty€refuses€to€take€the€case.€€Judge€Kaplan€remarked€that€thisÐ .h)5 Ðis€not€a€prevalent€problem.€€Judge€Johnson€noted€that€the€RuleÏhas€not€changed€the€situation€in€which€the€county€administrativeÏjudge€moves€a€case€out€of€the€circuit,€and€the€other€circuitÏrefuses€to€take€the€case.€€The€Chair€said€that€the€circuitÏadministrative€judge€makes€the€decision.€€The€receiving€judgeÏ(county€administrative€or€circuit€administrative)€is€preventedÏfrom€refusing€to€take€the€case.€€Judge€Johnson€observed€that€theÏcircuit€court€can€send€the€case€out€of€the€circuit,€butÏpreviously,€the€Chief€Judge€had€to€approve€this.€€He€askedÏwhether€this€has€been€changed.€€The€Chair€answered€that€this€hasÏbeen€changed.Ìà  àMr.€¢Shipley£€pointed€out€that€Rules€2„505€and€4„254€coverÏdifferent€procedures.€€In€the€Clerkððs€Office€in€Carroll€County,Ïthere€is€some€confusion€as€to€the€difference€between€removal€andÏtransfer.€€In€a€civil€case,€the€record€goes€back€to€the€originalÏcourt;€in€a€criminal€case,€the€record€stops€at€the€receivingÏcourt.€€He€inquired€as€to€whether€one€situation€should€be€calledÐ °  Ðð ðtransfer,ðð€and€the€other€one€called€ð ðremoval.ðð€€The€Chair€repliedÐ @" Ðin€the€negative,€explaining€that€people€are€comfortable€with€theÏidea€of€removal,€even€if€the€criminal€case€is€transferred.€€€ÏJudge€Kaplan€remarked€that€when€a€case€is€removed,€the€firstÏcounty€has€to€reimburse€the€receiving€county€for€the€costsÏincurred€by€the€jurors.€€The€Chair€cited€the€case€of€òòHowardÐ '`", ÐCounty€v.€Frederick€Countyóó,€30€Md.€432€(1869),€which€held€thatÐ  (ð#. Ðwhen€a€case€is€removed,€the€expenses€of€the€trial€are€to€be€paidÏby€the€originating€county.€€The€Chair€reiterated€that€the€termsÏshould€not€be€changed.Ð P- (4 Ðà  àThere€being€no€changes€suggested,€the€Committee€approvedÏRules€16„101,€2„505,€and€4„254€as€presented.Ìà  àThe€Chair€presented€Rule€16„817,€Appointment€of€Bail€BondÏCommissioner„„Licensing€and€Regulation€of€Bail€Bondsmen,€for€theÏCommitteeððs€consideration.€€€ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌÔ‡ X×ßXX X×ßÔà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÐ H ˜  ÐÌà@Œ Œ ìàTITLE€16€„€COURTS,€JUDGES,€AND€ATTORNEYSˆÌÌà@˜ ˜ ìàCHAPTER€800€„€MISCELLANEOUSˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€16„817€to€make€it€gender„¼neutral,€to€organize€bail€bond€commissionersÏby€appellate€judicial€circuits,€and€toÌprovide€that€the€Chief€Clerk€of€the€DistrictÏCourt€is€to€receive€the€list€of€bail€bondsmenÏlicensed€within€a€particular€appellateÌcircuit,€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€16„817.€€Appointment€of€Bail€BondÏCommissioner„„Licensing€and€Regulation€ofÏBail€Bondsmen.ÌÌÌ€€€€€A€majority€of€the€judges€of€û€€€(ûthe€circuitÏcourtsü€€€(ü€in€any€û€€€(ûappellateü€€€(ü€judicial€circuit€mayÏappoint€a€bail€bond€commissioner€and€licenseÏand€regulate€bail€bondsmen€and€acceptance€ofÏbail€bonds.ÌÌ€€€€€Each€bail€bond€commissioner€appointedÏpursuant€to€this€Rule€shall€prepare,€maintainÏand€periodically€distribute€to€all€DistrictÏCourt€commissioners€and€clerks€within€ò òhisó ó€û€€€(ûtheü€€€(üÐ ¸$ ) Ðjurisdiction€û€€€(ûof€the€appellate€judicialÏcircuitü€€€(ü€for€posting€in€their€respectiveÏoffices,€ò òandó ó€to€the€State€CourtÐ '`", ÐAdministrator,€û€€€(ûand€to€the€Chief€Clerk€of€theÏDistrict€Courtü€€€(ü,€an€alphabetical€list€of€bailÏbondsmen€licensed€to€write€bail€bonds€withinÏthe€û€€€(ûappellateü€€€(ü€judicial€circuit,€showing€theÏbail€bondsman's€name,€business€address€andÏtelephone€number,€and€any€limit€on€the€amountÏof€any€one€bond,€and€the€aggregate€limit€onÏall€bonds,€each€bail€bondsman€is€authorizedÏto€write.Ð .h)5 Ї€€€.€.€.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àRule€16„817€was€accompanied€by€the€following€ReporterððsÌÌNote.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àThis€Rule€is€proposed€to€be€amended€toÏmake€it€gender„neutral€and€to€clarify€thatÏthe€bail€bond€commissioners€are€organized€byÏappellate€judicial€circuits.€€In€addition,€inÏresponse€to€comments€by€the€StyleÏSubcommittee€that€Rule€16„817€should€beÏreviewed€in€light€of€other€rules€andÏlegislation€in€this€area,€the€General€CourtÏAdministration€Subcommittee€is€recommendingÏthat€language€be€added€to€the€Rule€providingÏthat€the€Chief€Clerk€of€the€District€Court€isÏto€receive€a€list€of€all€bail€bondsmen€inÏeach€appellate€jurisdiction€to€be€consistentÏwith€Rule€4„217€(d).ÌÔ#† X×ßXX X×ßm#ÔÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Chair€explained€that€the€Rule€has€been€restructured€toÏorganize€bail€bond€commissioners€by€appellate€judicial€circuitsÏand€to€state€that€the€bail€bond€commissioners€must€send€a€list€ofÏlicensed€bail€bondsmen€within€the€appellate€judicial€circuit€toÏthe€Chief€Clerk€of€the€District€Court.€€There€being€no€changes,ÏRule€16„817€was€approved€as€presented.€Ìà  àThe€Chair€stated€that€the€discussion€of€Agenda€Item€3€wouldÏbe€deferred€until€Mr.€Brault€was€available€to€present€it.ÌÓÓÌAgenda€Item€4.€€Continued€consideration€of€proposed€ProductsÌ€€Liability€Form€Interrogatories.€€(See€Appendix€3).Ì______________________________________________________________ÌÌÓÓà  àMr.€Klein€presented€the€Form€Interrogatories€for€ProductÏLiability€cases€for€the€Committeeððs€consideration.€€(See€AppendixÏ3).€€Mr.€Klein€told€the€Committee€that€the€last€time€these€FormÏInterrogatories€were€discussed€was€in€June€of€1997.€€There€are€46Ïquestions€plus€definitions.€€At€the€June,€1997€meeting,€all€butÐ P- (4 Ðthe€last€21€question€were€considered.€€Most€of€the€changesÏsuggested€were€stylistic.€€The€suggested€changes€are€marked€inÏthe€Interrogatories.€€Ìà  àInterrogatories€Nos.€7€and€8€had€been€one€question€which€wasÏseparated€into€two.€€New€Interrogatory€No.€8€asks€for€documentsÏthat€depict€or€purport€to€depict€the€condition€of€the€product.€ÏOne€of€the€elements€of€proof€is€a€substantial€change€in€theÏproductððs€condition.€€The€change€is€an€attempt€to€solve€theÏproblem€of€vagueness€of€the€original€question.€€Interrogatory€No.Ï10€was€redrafted€to€address€the€concern€that€experts€retained€inÏanticipation€or€preparation€for€trial€who€will€not€be€called€toÏtestify€would€not€be€forced€to€disclose.€€€€Ìà  àTen€of€the€questions€refer€to€ð ðsubstantially€similarÐ pÀ Ðproducts.ðð€€The€Rules€Committee€had€asked€the€Subcommittee€toÐ P Ðdevise€a€definition€of€a€ð ðsubstantially€similarðð€product€orÐ à Ðcomponent€part.€€The€Subcommittee€attempted€to€do€this,€but€afterÏmuch€research€was€completed,€the€Subcommittee€was€of€the€opinionÏthat€it€could€not€draft€a€generic€definition.€€The€problem€isÏthat€the€issue€is€fact„specific,€and€it€depends€on€the€nature€ofÏthe€case.€€From€a€policy€point€of€view,€the€Subcommittee€feltÏthat€they€should€not€be€building€controversy€into€the€FormÏInterrogatories,€since€they€carry€the€imprimatur€of€the€court.€€ÏIt€is€important€not€to€make€mischief€for€the€parties,€and€leaveÏone€party€at€the€substantial€disadvantage€of€trying€to€persuadeÏsomeone€as€to€why€the€ð ðone€size€fits€allðð€approach€does€not€fit.Ð 0*€%0 Ðà  à€There€are€three€possibilities€as€to€how€to€handle€theÏproblem€of€the€meaning€of€the€phrase€ð ðsubstantially€similar.ðð€Ð P- (4 ÐOne€is€to€leave€the€questions€which€contain€this€language€as€theyÏare.€€The€second€is€to€strike€all€of€the€references€to€theÏphrase.€€The€third€is€to€instruct€the€person€asking€the€questionÏabout€a€ð ðsubstantially€similarðð€product€or€component€part€toÐ ` ° Ðexplain€what€the€person€means€by€the€question.€€The€SubcommitteeÏopted€for€the€second€approach.€€The€questions€impacted€by€thisÏproblem€are:€€Nos.€9,€32,€33,€34,€36,€38,€former€39€(which€wasÏstricken€entirely),€new€39,€43,€and€44.€€This€problem€is€beingÏpresented€to€the€Rules€Committee€to€determine€which€approachÏshould€be€approved.Ìà  àMr.€Titus€commented€that€the€Form€Interrogatories€areÏdesigned€to€be€widely€useable.€€If€they€are€too€narrow,€this€endÏwill€not€be€achieved.€€The€Chair€said€that€the€phraseÐ pÀ Ðð ðsubstantially€similarðð€should€be€left€in€the€Rule,€with€aÐ P Ðproviso€that€the€phrase€is€to€be€defined€by€the€person€seekingÏinformation€about€it.€€The€burden€is€on€the€person€asking€forÏinformation€to€explain€what€ð ðsubstantially€similarðð€means.€€Mr.Ð °  ÐKlein€commented€that€this€was€the€third€option€considered€by€theÏSubcommittee,€but€they€did€not€choose€it.€€The€Chair€stated€thatÏwhen€the€answer€comes€back€extremely€narrow,€it€is€unfair€to€theÏplaintiffððs€attorney.€€Mr.€Klein€noted€that€the€flip€side€to€thisÏis€the€federal€rules€where€discovery€has€been€too€broad.€€Mr.ÏBrault€added€that€in€proposed€changes€to€the€federal€rules,€theÏphrase€in€the€interrogatories€which€reads€ð ðrelevant€to€theÐ  (ð#. Ðsubject€matterðð€becomes€ð ðmatters€at€issue.ðð€€€Mr.€Klein€said€thatÐ 0*€%0 Ðhe€had€attended€federal€hearings€and€symposia,€which€hadÏcommunicated€the€sense€that€free„wheeling,€òòcarteóó€òòblancheóóÐ P- (4 Ðdiscovery€is€too€expensive,€and€discovery€needs€to€be€narrowed.€ÏIf€the€federal€rule€passes,€Maryland€could€look€at€it€as€anÏexample.€€The€Chair€commented€that€it€could€be€considered,Ïregardless€of€whether€it€passes.€€The€Vice€Chair€remarked€thatÏthe€next€wave€in€discovery€is€automatic€exchange€of€kinds€ofÏdiscovery.€Ìà  àMr.€Klein€noted€that€the€phrase€ð ðsubstantially€similarðð€isÐ `  Ðhard€to€define,€lending€itself€to€free„wheeling€discovery.€€Mr.ÏHowell€remarked€that€there€are€multiple€schools€of€thought.€€IfÏthe€phrase€is€deleted€from€the€Form€Interrogatories,€it€may€buildÏin€the€conception€that€a€party€cannot€modify€an€interrogatory€toÏanswer€about€a€substantially€similar€product.€€The€Chair€statedÏthat€a€Committee€note€could€be€added€which€would€state€that€theseÏquestions€are€not€intended€to€suggest€that€in€a€particular€case,Ïdiscovery€with€respect€to€substantially€similar€products€is€outÏof€bounds.€€The€Chair€said€that€the€draft€interrogatories€implyÏthat€one€cannot€use€substantially€similar€products€in€an€answer,Ïsince€they€are€not€mentioned.€Ìà  àAfter€the€lunch€break,€Mr.€Klein€asked€the€Rules€CommitteeÏits€preference€as€to€how€to€handle€the€issue€of€substantiallyÏsimilar€products.€€The€Chair€suggested€that€there€could€be€aÏcomment€about€substantially€similar€products€which€would€explainÏwhy€the€term€is€not€in€the€language€of€the€interrogatories.€ÏCounsel€can€request€information€about€substantially€similarÏproducts,€but€the€burden€is€on€counsel€to€define€the€term.€€TheÏVice€Chair€expressed€her€opposition€to€this€suggestion.€€SheÏpointed€out€that€there€are€other€kinds€of€interrogatories€whichÐ P- (4 Ðdo€not€address€certain€subject€matters.€€She€suggested€adding€aÏCommittee€note€in€the€beginning€of€the€interrogatories€whichÏwould€indicate€that€the€forms€are€not€designed€to€limit€questionsÏabout€substantially€similar€products.€€The€Chair€commented€thatÏthere€is€general€agreement€that€someone€is€entitled€to€discoveryÏof€substantially€similar€products.€€Mr.€Howell€suggested€adding€aÏCommittee€note€which€would€provide€that€in€certain€cases,Ïsubstantially€similar€products€may€have€relevance€to€the€issuesÏin€the€case.€€There€would€be€no€ready€definition€ofÐ 0€  Ðð ðsubstantially€similarðð€„„€it€would€be€based€on€case€law.€€Ð À Ðà  àThe€Reporter€noted€that€without€a€definition,€this€issueÏwould€be€outside€of€the€safe€harbor€of€the€Form€Interrogatories.€ÏMr.€Klein€commented€that€the€issue€of€substantially€similarÏproducts€is€so€ingrained€in€product€liability€cases€that€it€hasÏto€be€addressed.€€The€Vice€Chair€inquired€as€to€what€the€problemÏis€using€the€phrase€in€interrogatories.€€Mr.€Klein€answered€thatÏthe€Committee€was€of€the€opinion€that€there€should€be€aÏdefinition€of€ð ðsubstantially€similar.ðð€€The€Vice€Chair€suggestedÐ @" Ðthat€the€phrase€be€left€in,€and€if€there€is€any€doubt€as€to€theÏmeaning,€the€parties€can€argue€before€the€judge.€€Mr.€BraultÏremarked€that€the€phrase€should€be€left€in.€€There€should€be€aÏdefinition€explaining€that€the€language€cannot€be€definedÏgenerically,€but€if€the€interrogator€intends€to€use€the€term,€itÏwill€be€defined.€€€The€Reporter€suggested€that€the€phrase€be€leftÏin€with€brackets€around€it.€€The€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€toÏthis€suggestion.Ìà  àMr.€Klein€pointed€out€that€the€phrase€ð ðsubstantiallyÐ P- (4 Ðsimilarðð€also€applies€to€components.€€If€the€phrase€is€to€beÐ ° Ðretained€in€the€interrogatories,€then€Interrogatory€No.€39€shouldÏbe€modified€to€add€in€the€language€ð ðor€substantially€similarÐ Ð  Ðcomponentsðð€after€the€word€ð ðproductðð€and€before€the€word€ð ðand.ðð€€€Ð ` ° ÐThe€Chair€stated€that€it€will€be€the€obligation€of€the€partyÏfiling€the€interrogatories€to€define€the€phrase€ð ðsubstantiallyÐ € Ð  Ðsimilar.ðð€€If€there€is€a€contest€over€the€broadness€of€it,€theÐ `  Ðjudge€can€decide.€€Ìà  àMr.€Klein€drew€the€Committeeððs€attention€to€InterrogatoryÏNo.€61.€€He€commented€that€Mr.€Howell€had€suggested€ññchaññññññinññññññnging€theÏorder€ofññ€some€of€the€interrogatories.€€One€interrogatory€whichÏcould€be€moved€is€Interrogatory€No.€66.€€It€is€similar€toÏInterrogatory€No.€61,€except€that€Interrogatory€No.€61€focuses€onÏthe€component€at€issue.€€€It€could€be€argued€that€Nos.€66€and€67Ïshould€be€placed€up€front.€€The€Chair€commented€that€Nos.€61€andÏ62€should€remain€in€the€same€position.€€He€suggested€that€No.€66Ïcould€be€placed€between€Nos.€62€and€63.€€Nos.€63,€64,€and€65€flowÏtogether.€€Mr.€Klein€suggested€that€in€Interrogatory€No.€61,€andÏin€the€other€Interrogatories€where€is€appears,€the€languageÐ Ð $ Ðð ðinjuries€or€damagesðð€should€be€changed€to€the€word€ð ðharm,ðð€whichÐ `"°& Ðññiññññiññs€ñ ñnow€more€commonly€usedñ ññ ñthe€term€used€in€the€Restatñ ññ ñeñ ññ ñment€of€Tortsñ ñ.€€The€CommitteeÏagreed€by€consensus€to€this€change.€€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€expressed€the€opinion€that€the€use€of€theÏword€ð ðidentifyðð€in€the€Form€Interrogatories€may€be€going€too€far,Ð  (ð#. Ðin€that€it€encourages€the€use€of€one€interrogatory€which€isÏburdensome€and€includes€several€questions.€€Mr.€Brault€observedÏthat€there€is€a€limit€of€30€questions.€€Mr.€Titus€noted€that€thisÐ P- (4 Ðis€the€trade„off€envisioned€when€the€idea€of€Form€InterrogatoriesÏwas€approved€by€the€Committee.€€Technically,€there€may€be€moreÏthan€30€questions€included€in€a€partyððs€30€Interrogatories,€ññbutÏññthere€is€no€arguing€about€the€Interrogatories.€€Ìà  àThe€Chair€reiterated€that€Interrogatory€Nos.€63,€64,€and€65Ïflow€together,€based€on€Nos.€61€and€62.€€No.€66€is€general€andÏcould€be€the€¢leadoff£€question.€€Mr.€Klein€questioned€whether€No.Ï66€is€necessary€if€the€other€Interrogatories€in€that€sequence€areÏused.€€Mr.€Howell€responded€that€No.€66€is€all„inclusive.€€Mr.ÏKlein€agreed€that€No.€66€should€go€to€the€front€of€theÏInterrogatories€to€Plaintiff€from€Defendant.€Ìà  àMr.€Klein€drew€the€Committeeððs€attention€to€InterrogatoriesÏNos.€67€through€72.€€The€Chair€commented€that€Nos.€67€and€68Ïrelate€to€one€another.€€One€pertains€to€the€condition€before€theÏoccurrence,€and€the€other€is€how€the€product€reached€the€person.€€ÏThe€Vice€Chair€pointed€out€that€Nos.€66,€67,€and€68€all€concernÏthe€product€itself,€and€the€three€interrogatories€should€remainÏtogether.€€Mr.€Sykes€pointed€out€a€grammatical€error€inÏInterrogatory€No.€67€„„€the€word€ð ðwhomðð€should€be€changed€to€theÐ Ð $ Ðword€ð ðwho.ðð€€Ð `"°& Ðà  àMr.€Klein€noted€that€Interrogatories€Nos.€63€through€65€areÏvariations€on€a€theme€of€the€type€of€defect.€€The€questions€askÏwhy€the€plaintiff€contends€there€is€a€defect€in€the€design€orÏmanufacture€of€the€product.€€The€Vice€Chair€inquired€ifÏInterrogatory€No.€66€is€different€from€the€ones€that€come€beforeÏit.€€It€is€important€not€to€encourage€asking€the€same€things€overÏand€over.€€€The€Chair€questioned€whether€No.€66€should€beÐ P- (4 Ðdeleted.€€Mr.€Klein€remarked€that€he€had€the€same€inclination,Ïbecause€other€Interrogatories€focus€the€issue.€€The€ChairÏsuggested€that€some€of€the€language€of€No.€66€could€beÏincorporated€into€No.€63.€€The€language€of€No.€63€could€beÏchanged€to€read:€€ð ðWith€respect€to€each€ò òcomponent€at€issueó ó€forÐ ð @ Ðwhich€you€contend€there€was€a€€defect€in€design,€state€the€factsÏthat€support€your€contention,€including€the€particulars...ðð€€TheÐ `°  Ðlanguage€ð ðstate€the€factsðð€could€also€be€added€to€Nos.€64€and€65.€Ð ð@  ÐThe€Vice€Chair€remarked€that€the€language€of€Interrogatory€No.€62Ïis€the€equivalent€of€ð ðstate€the€facts.ðð€€Mr.€Klein€pointed€outÐ ` Ðthat€Nos.€63€through€65€are€rooted€in€substantive€law.€€The€ChairÏsaid€that€the€danger€of€not€having€No.€66€is€that€there€would€beÏno€discussion€of€the€facts€to€support€the€contention.€€Ìà  àThe€Reporter€asked€if€the€Committee€had€decided€to€deleteÏInterrogatory€No.€66.€€Mr.€Sykes€inquired€as€to€how€persons€andÏdocuments€would€be€identified.€€Mr.€Klein€responded€that€this€isÏcovered€in€No.€61.€€The€Chair€suggested€that€the€language€ð ðstateÐ P  Ðthe€factsðð€could€be€added€to€No.€61€as€follows:€ð ðName€eachÐ à" Ðò òcomponent€at€issueó ó,€state€whether€you€contend€that€the€allegedÐ  !p$ Ðdefect€in€the€ò òcomponent€at€issueó ó€is€one€of€design,€manufacture,Ð #P& Ðor€a€failure€to€provide€adequate€ò òproduct€informationó ó,€state€theÐ à$0 ( Ðfacts€that€support€your€contention,€and€ò òidentifyó ó€each€ò òpersonó ó€andÐ À&"* Ðò òdocumentòòó ó...ðð.€€óó€Ð  (ð#, Ðà  àThe€Vice€Chair€expressed€the€view€that€No.€66€should€beÏdeleted.€€The€Chair€said€that€this€leaves€open€the€issue€ofÐ ,`'0 Ðð ðstate€the€facts€that€support€your€contention.ðð€€The€Vice€ChairÐ  -ð(2 Ðnoted€that€Interrogatory€No.€62€asks€for€the€specific€nature€ofÏthe€defect,€which€is€a€way€of€obtaining€facts.€€This€is€the€sameÏfor€No.€63€which€asks€for€more€specific€facts.€€The€ChairÏreiterated€that€the€request€of€ð ðstate€the€facts€that€support€yourÐ ` ° Ðcontentionðð€should€appear€somewhere.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggestedÐ ð @ Ðthat€No.€66€remain€in€the€package,€but€should€include€theÏlanguage€ð ðstate€any€facts€not€previously€set€forth€or€anyÐ `  Ðadditional€facts.ðð€€Mr.€Sykes€expressed€the€opinion€that€No.€66Ð  ð  Ðis€broad€enough,€and€the€Vice€Chairððs€suggested€language€may€beÏmore€appropriate€in€another€interrogatory.€€The€Vice€ChairÏproposed€deleting€Interrogatory€No.€66.€€Mr.€Hochberg€commentedÏthat€an€interrogatory€which€requests€one€to€state€the€facts€inÏsupport€of€a€contention€is€very€broad€and€requires€a€broadÏanswer.€€The€Chair€commented€that€if€a€design€defect€is€alleged,Ïeach€person€or€document€with€information€needs€to€be€identified,Ïand€the€facts€in€support€of€the€contention€have€to€be€set€forth.Ìà  àMr.€Klein€noted€that€Interrogatory€No.€62€could€beÏeliminated€if€some€of€the€other€interrogatories€used€the€languageÐ @" Ðð ðstate€the€facts€that€support€the€contention.ðð€€The€Chair€saidÐ Ð $ Ðthat€this€is€more€an€assertion€of€ultimate€fact€rather€than€theÏfoundation€of€intermediary€facts.€€Mr.€Howell€asked€if€this€is€toÏbe€used€in€all€cases€or€if€a€menu€is€to€be€provided€to€beÏtailored€for€use.€€Mr.€Klein€replied€that€the€latter€is€what€isÏintended.€€Mr.€Howell€commented€that€there€are€differentÏapproaches,€such€as€simple,€broad€interrogatories€or€veryÏspecific€ones.€€He€prefers€a€mix€of€the€two.€€The€Vice€ChairÏobserved€that€there€is€not€a€single€cohesive€set€that€can€be€usedÐ P- (4 Ðin€all€cases.€€When€the€Court€of€Appeals€adopts€these€as€forms,Ïit€will€be€presumptively€appropriate€to€put€in€Nos.€61€to€66€atÏthe€same€time,€even€if€the€questions€overlap.€€The€Chair€addedÏthat€some€questions€are€conditional,€such€as€No.€63.€€If€one€isÏanswered,€then€the€rest€are€appropriate.€€Ìà  àMr.€Sykes€pointed€out€that€one€interrogatory€could€containÏthe€following€provisions:€name€the€component;€state€whether€itsÏdesign€was€defective;€and€if€so,€state€the€particulars€of€eachÏalternative€design€that€should€have€been€employed.€€It€is€notÏfair€to€make€all€of€these€provisions€separate€when€they€areÏconditional.€€Mr.€Klein€observed€that€concerning€the€design,Ïmanufacture,€or€a€failure€to€provide€adequate€productÏinformation,€the€question€should€be€to€give€the€alternativeÏdesign€or€how€the€user€should€have€been€warned.€€The€ChairÏsuggested€that€Nos.€62€and€66€be€eliminated,€and€in€Nos.€63Ïthrough€65,€substitute€the€language€ð ðif€youðð€for€the€language€ð ðforÐ  p Ðwhich.ðð€€No.€63€could€read€as€follows:€€ð ðWith€respect€to€eachÐ °  Ðò òcomponent€at€issueó ó€if€you€contend€there€was€a€defect€in€design,Ð @" Ðstate€the€facts€that€support€your€contention€and€state€theÏparticulars€of€each€alternative€design€that€you€contend€could€andÏshould€have€been€employed.ððÐ @$( Ðà  àMr.€Sykes€suggested€that€the€Interrogatories€should€beÏdesigned€using€the€following€pattern.€€First,€the€InterrogatoryÏshould€ask€the€person€to€specify€the€contention€of€what€is€atÏissue.€€Second,€as€to€the€item€at€issue,€the€person€shouldÏspecify€the€information€as€to€each.€€Third,€if€case€law€requiresÏcertain€things,€such€as€alternative€designs,€the€person€shouldÐ  -ð(4 Ðspecify€these.€€Ìà  àThe€Chair€said€that€Interrogatories€Nos.62€and€66€should€beÏeliminated,€and€the€proposed€changes€made€to€Nos.€63,€64,€and€65Ï(these€three€interrogatories€collapsed€into€one.)€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€asked€about€possible€changes€to€No.€61.€€Mr.ÏBrault€suggested€that€it€go€back€to€the€Subcommittee€for€furtherÏwork.€€The€Reporter€asked€Mr.€Klein€which€Interrogatories€heÏuses.€€He€answered€that€what€is€in€the€proposed€FormÏInterrogatories€is€more€than€he€uses.€€The€package€is€aÏcompilation€of€this€interrogatories€and€those€of€other€attorneysÏwho€practice€in€the€field.€€He€remarked€that€there€is€aÏpossibility€that€the€package€could€be€simplified.€ÌÓÓÌAgenda€Item€3.€€Consideration€of€proposed€amendments€to:€€Rule€Ì€€2„323€(Answer)€and€Rule€2„322€(Preliminary€Motions).Ì________________________________________________________________ÌÌÓÓà  àMr.€Brault€presented€Rules€2„323,€Answer€and€2„322,ÏPreliminary€Motions,€for€the€Committeeððs€consideration.€€€ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@Œ Œ ìàTITLE€2€„€CIVIL€PROCEDURE„„CIRCUIT€COURTˆÌÌà@¸ ¸ ìàCHAPTER€300€„€PLEADINGS€AND€MOTIONSˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€2„323€to€delete€a€certainÏdefense€from€subsection€(g)(4),€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€2-323.€€ANSWERÌÌÌ€€(a)€€ContentÌÌà ¸ à€€A€claim€for€relief€is€brought€to€issueÏby€filing€an€answer.€Every€defense€of€law€orÏfact€to€a€claim€for€relief€in€a€complaint,Ïcounterclaim,€€cross-claim,€or€third-partyÐ .h)5 Ðclaim€shall€be€asserted€in€an€answer,€exceptÏas€provided€by€Rule€2-322.€€If€a€pleadingÏsetting€forth€a€claim€for€relief€does€notÏrequire€a€responsive€pleading,€the€adverseÏparty€may€assert€at€the€trial€any€defense€ofÏlaw€or€fact€to€that€claim€for€relief.€€TheÏanswer€shall€be€stated€in€short€and€plainÏterms€and€shall€contain€the€following:€(1)Ïthe€defenses€permitted€by€Rule€2-322€(b)€thatÏhave€not€been€raised€by€motion,€(2)€answersÏto€the€averments€of€the€claim€for€reliefÏpursuant€to€section€(c)€or€(d)€of€this€Rule,Ïand€(3)€the€defenses€enumerated€in€sectionsÏ(f)€and€(g)€of€this€Rule.€€€€ÌÌ€€(b)€€Preliminary€DeterminationÌÌà ¸ à€€The€defenses€of€lack€of€jurisdictionÏover€the€subject€matter,€failure€to€state€aÏclaim€upon€which€relief€can€be€granted,Ïfailure€to€join€a€party€under€Rule€2-211,€andÏgovernmental€immunity€shall€be€determinedÏbefore€trial€on€application€of€any€party,Ïexcept€that€the€court€may€defer€theÏdetermination€of€the€defense€of€failure€toÏstate€a€claim€upon€which€relief€can€beÏgranted€until€the€trial.€€ÌÌ€€(c)€€Specific€Admissions€or€DenialsÌÌà ¸ à€€Except€as€permitted€by€section€(d)€ofÏthis€Rule,€a€party€shall€admit€or€deny€theÏaverments€upon€which€the€adverse€partyÏrelies.€€A€party€without€knowledge€orÏinformation€sufficient€to€form€a€belief€as€toÏthe€truth€of€an€averment€shall€so€state€andÏthis€has€the€effect€of€a€denial.€€DenialsÏshall€fairly€meet€the€substance€of€theÏaverments€denied.€€A€party€may€denyÏdesignated€averments€or€paragraphs€or€mayÏgenerally€deny€all€the€averments€exceptÏaverments€or€paragraphs€that€are€specificallyÏadmitted.€€ÌÌ€€(d)€€General€Denials€in€Specified€CausesÌÌà ¸ à€€When€the€action€in€any€count€is€forÏbreach€of€contract,€debt,€or€tort€and€theÏclaim€for€relief€is€for€money€only,€a€partyÏmay€answer€that€count€by€a€general€denial€ofÏliability.€€ÌÌ€€(e)€€Effect€of€Failure€to€DenyÌÐ .h)5 Ðà ¸ à€€Averments€in€a€pleading€to€which€aÏresponsive€pleading€is€required,€other€thanÏthose€as€to€the€amount€of€damages,€areÏadmitted€unless€denied€in€the€responsiveÏpleading€or€covered€by€a€general€denial.€ÏAverments€in€a€pleading€to€which€noÏresponsive€pleading€is€required€or€permittedÏshall€be€taken€as€denied€or€avoided.€€WhenÏappropriate,€a€party€may€claim€the€inabilityÏto€admit,€deny,€or€explain€an€averment€on€theÏground€that€to€do€so€would€tend€toÏincriminate€the€party,€and€such€statementÏshall€not€amount€to€an€admission€of€theÏaverment.€€ÌÌ€€(f)€€Negative€DefensesÌÌà ¸ à€€Whether€proceeding€under€section€(c)Ïor€section€(d)€of€this€Rule,€when€a€partyÏdesires€to€raise€an€issue€as€to€(1)€the€legalÏexistence€of€a€party,€including€a€partnershipÏor€a€corporation,€(2)€the€capacity€of€a€partyÏto€sue€or€be€sued,€(3)€the€authority€of€aÏparty€to€sue€or€be€sued€in€a€representativeÏcapacity,€(4)€the€averment€of€the€executionÏof€a€written€instrument,€or€(5)€the€avermentÏof€the€ownership€of€a€motor€vehicle,€theÏparty€shall€do€so€by€negative€averment,€whichÏshall€include€such€supporting€particulars€asÏare€peculiarly€within€the€pleader'sÏknowledge.€€If€not€raised€by€negativeÏaverment,€these€matters€are€admitted€for€theÏpurpose€of€the€pending€action.ÏNotwithstanding€an€admission€under€thisÏsection,€the€court€may€require€proof€of€anyÏof€these€matters€upon€such€terms€andÏconditions,€including€continuance€andÏallocation€of€costs,€as€the€court€deemsÏproper.€€ÌÌ€€(g)€€Affirmative€DefensesÌÌà ¸ à€€Whether€proceeding€under€section€(c)Ïor€section€(d)€of€this€Rule,€a€party€shallÏset€forth€by€separate€defenses:€(1)€accordÏand€€satisfaction,€(2)€merger€of€a€claim€byÏarbitration€into€an€award,€(3)€assumption€ofÏrisk,€ò ò(4)€discharge€in€bankruptcy€orÐ h)¸$/ Ðinsolvency€from€the€plaintiff's€claim,€(5)ó óÐ 0*€%0 Ðû€€€(û(4)ü€€€(ü€collateral€estoppel€as€a€defense€to€aÏclaim,€ò ò(6)ó ó€û€€€(û(5)ü€€€(ü€contributory€negligence,€ò ò(7)ó óÐ À+'2 Ðû€€€(û(6)ü€€€(ü€duress,€ò ò(8)ó ó€û€€€(û(7)ü€€€(ü€estoppel,€ò ò(9)ó ó€û€€€(û(8)ü€€€(ü€fraud,Ð ˆ,Ø'3 Ðò ò(10)ó ó€û€€€(û(9)ü€€€(ü€illegality,€ò ò(11)ó ó€û€€€(û(10)ü€€€(ü€laches,€ò ò(12)ó óÐ P- (4 Ðû€€€(û(11)ü€€€(ü€payment,€ò ò(13)ó ó€û€€€(û(12)ü€€€(ü€release,€ò ò(14)ó ó€û€€€(û(13)ü€€€(üÐ .h)5 Ðres€judicata,€ò ò(15)ó ó€û€€€(û(14)ü€€€(ü€statute€of€frauds,Ð ° Ðò ò(16)ó ó€û€€€(û(15)ü€€€(ü€statute€of€limitations,€ò ò(17)ó ó€û€€€(û(16)ü€€€(üÐ xÈ Ðultra€vires,€ò ò(18)ó ó€û€€€(û(17)ü€€€(ü€usury,€ò ò(19)ó ó€û€€€(û(18)ü€€€(üÐ @ Ðwaiver,€ò ò(20)ó ó€û€€€(û(19)ü€€€(ü€privilege,€and€ò ò(21)ó ó€û€€€(û(20)ü€€€(üÐ X Ðtotal€or€partial€charitable€immunity.€€ÌÌà ¸ àIn€addition,€a€party€may€include€byÏseparate€defense€any€other€matterÏconstituting€an€avoidance€or€affirmativeÏdefense€on€legal€or€equitable€grounds.€€WhenÏa€party€has€mistakenly€designated€a€defenseÏas€a€counterclaim€or€a€counterclaim€as€aÏdefense,€the€court€shall€treat€the€pleadingÏas€if€there€had€been€a€proper€designation,€ifÏjustice€so€requires.€€ÌÌ€€(h)€€Defendant's€Information€ReportÌÌà ¸ à€€The€defendant€shall€file€with€theÏanswer€an€information€report€substantially€inÏthe€form€included€with€the€summons€if€(1)€theÏplaintiff€has€failed€to€file€an€informationÏreport€required€by€Rule€2-111(a),€(2)€theÏdefendant€disagrees€with€anything€containedÏin€an€information€report€filed€by€theÏplaintiff,€(3)€the€defendant€disagrees€with€aÏdifferentiated€case€management€trackÏpreviously€selected€by€the€court,€or€(4)€theÏdefendant€has€filed€or€expects€to€file€aÏcounterclaim,€cross-claim,€or€third-partyÏclaim.€€If€the€defendant€fails€to€file€aÏrequired€information€report€with€the€answer,Ïthe€court€may€proceed€without€the€defendant'sÏinformation€to€assign€the€action€to€any€trackÏwithin€the€court's€differentiated€caseÏmanagement€system€or€may€continue€the€actionÏon€any€track€previously€assigned.€€ÌÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€derived€as€follows:€€Ì€€Section€(a)€is€new.€€Ì€€Section€(b)€is€new.€€Ì€€Section€(c)€is€derived€from€FRCP€8€(b)€andÏformer€Rule€372€a€2.€€€€Ì€€Section€(d)€is€derived€from€former€Rule€342Ïb€1€and€2.€€Ì€€Section€(e)€is€derived€from€FRCP€8€(d)€andÏformer€Rules€372€b€and€b€1€and€312€b.€€Ì€€Section€(f)€is€derived€from€former€RulesÏ311€a,€342€c€1,€and€2,€and€323€a€5€and€fromÏFRCP€9€(a).€€Ì€€Section€(g)€is€derived€from€FRCP€8€(c)€andÏformer€Rule€342€c€1€and€2.€€Ì€€Section€(h)€is€new.€€ÌÐ .h)5 ЇÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àRule€2„323€was€accompanied€by€the€following€Reporterððs€Note.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àAt€the€suggestion€of€the€Hon.€PaulÏ¢Mannes£,€United€States€Bankruptcy€Court€forÏthe€District€of€Maryland,€the€Process,ÏParties€&€Pleading€Subcommittee€recommendsÏthe€deletion€of€subsection€(g)(4)€of€Rule€2„¼323.€€Under€Section€524€(a)€of€the€BankruptcyÏReform€Act€of€1978,€a€discharge€in€bankruptcyÏis€operative€regardless€of€the€action€orÏinaction€or€the€debtor€in€a€state€courtÏproceeding.€€Therefore,€bankruptcy€should€notÏbe€included€in€the€class€of€affirmativeÏdefenses€listed€in€Rule€2„323€(g)€which,€ifÏnot€specially€pleaded,€are€waived.ÌÌà ¸ àThe€Subcommittee€believes,€however,€thatÏthere€should€be€some€mention€of€bankruptcyÏelsewhere€in€the€Title€2,€Chapter€300€RulesÏso€that€the€plaintiff€and€the€court€are€madeÏaware€of€the€bankruptcy€and€of€any€factualÏdisputes€that€need€to€be€resolved€(such€asÏwhether€the€debt€is€one€that€isÏ¢nondischargeable£€in€bankruptcy,€whether€theÏdefendant€ð ðJohn€Doeðð€is€the€same€ð ðJohn€DoeððÐ pÀ Ðwhose€debts€have€been€discharged,€whether€theÏdebt€arose€subsequent€to€the€debtorððsÏdischarge€in€bankruptcy,€etc.).€€Accordingly,Ïthe€Subcommittee€recommends€that€discharge€inÏbankruptcy€be€add€to€Rule€2„322€(b)€as€aÏdefense€that€is€permitted€to€be€made€by€aÏmotion€to€dismiss€filed€before€the€answer.€ÏThe€defenses€and€objections€listed€in€Rule€2„¼322€(b)€are€not€waived€if€they€are€notÏincluded€in€a€motion€to€dismiss€and€as€statedÏin€the€last€sentence€of€that€section,€ð ðmay€beÐ  X# Ðmade€in€the€answer€or€in€any€otherÏappropriate€manner€after€answer€is€filed.ðð€€Ð ˜!è% ÐÌà ¸ àThe€phrase€ð ðor€insolvency€from€theÐ (#x' Ðplaintiffððs€claimðð€is€recommended€forÐ ð#@( Ðdeletion,€rather€than€transfer,€because€it€isÏvery€rarely€used€in€light€of€the€availabilityÏof€federal€bankruptcy€proceedings.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ  P- (4 Ðà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@Œ Œ ìàTITLE€2€„€CIVIL€PROCEDURE„„CIRCUIT€COURTˆÌÌà@¸ ¸ ìàCHAPTER€300€„€PLEADINGS€AND€MOTIONSˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€2„322€to€add€discharge€inÏbankruptcy€to€section€(b),€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€2-322.€€PRELIMINARY€MOTIONS€ÌÌÌ€€(a)€€MandatoryÌÌà ¸ à€€The€following€defenses€shall€be€madeÏby€motion€to€dismiss€filed€before€the€answer,Ïif€an€answer€is€required:€(1)€lack€ofÏjurisdiction€over€the€person,€(2)€improperÏvenue,€(3)€insufficiency€of€process,€and€(4)Ïinsufficiency€of€service€of€process.€€If€notÏso€made€and€the€answer€is€filed,€theseÏdefenses€are€waived.€€Ì€€(b)€€PermissiveÌÌà ¸ à€€The€following€defenses€may€be€made€byÏmotion€to€dismiss€filed€before€the€answer,€ifÏan€answer€is€required:€(1)€lack€ofÏjurisdiction€over€the€subject€matter,€(2)Ïfailure€to€state€a€claim€upon€which€reliefÏcan€be€granted,€(3)€failure€to€join€a€partyÏunder€Rule€2-211,€ò òandó ó€û€€€(û(4)€discharge€inÐ °  Ðbankruptcy,€andü€€€(ü€ò ò(4)ó ó€û€€€(û(5)ü€€€(ü€governmentalÐ xÈ! Ðimmunity.€€If€not€so€made,€these€defenses€andÏobjections€may€be€made€in€the€answer,€or€inÏany€other€appropriate€manner€after€answer€isÏfiled.€€ÌÌ€€(c)€€DispositionÌÌà ¸ à€€A€motion€under€sections€(a)€and€(b)€ofÏthis€Rule€shall€be€determined€before€trial,Ïexcept€that€a€court€may€defer€theÏdetermination€of€the€defense€of€failure€toÏstate€a€claim€upon€which€relief€can€beÏgranted€until€the€trial.€€In€disposing€of€theÏmotion,€the€court€may€dismiss€the€action€orÏgrant€such€lesser€or€different€relief€as€mayÏbe€appropriate.€€If€the€court€ordersÏdismissal,€an€amended€complaint€may€be€filedÏonly€if€the€court€expressly€grants€leave€toÏamend.€€The€amended€complaint€shall€be€filedÏwithin€30€days€after€entry€of€the€order€orÐ .h)5 Ðwithin€such€other€time€as€the€court€may€fix.€ÏIf€leave€to€amend€is€granted€and€theÏplaintiff€fails€to€file€an€amended€complaintÏwithin€the€time€prescribed,€the€court,€onÏmotion,€may€enter€an€order€dismissing€theÏaction.€€If,€on€a€motion€to€dismiss€forÏfailure€of€the€pleading€to€state€a€claim€uponÏwhich€relief€can€be€granted,€matters€outsideÏthe€pleading€are€presented€to€and€notÏexcluded€by€the€court,€the€motion€shall€beÏtreated€as€one€for€summary€judgment€andÏdisposed€of€as€provided€in€Rule€2-501,€andÏall€parties€shall€be€given€reasonableÏopportunity€to€present€all€material€madeÏpertinent€to€such€a€motion€by€Rule€2-501.€€ÌÌ€€(d)€€Motion€for€More€Definite€StatementÌÌà ¸ à€€If€a€pleading€to€which€an€answer€isÏpermitted€is€so€vague€or€ambiguous€that€aÏparty€cannot€reasonably€frame€an€answer,€theÏparty€may€move€for€a€more€definite€statementÏbefore€answering.€The€motion€shall€point€outÏthe€defects€complained€of€and€the€detailsÏdesired.€€If€the€motion€is€granted€and€theÏorder€of€the€court€is€not€obeyed€within€15Ïdays€after€entry€of€the€order€or€within€suchÏother€time€as€the€court€may€fix,€the€courtÏmay€strike€the€pleading€to€which€the€motionÏwas€directed€or€make€such€order€as€it€deemsÏjust.€€ÌÌ€€(e)€€Motion€to€StrikeÌÌà ¸ à€€On€motion€made€by€a€party€beforeÏresponding€to€a€pleading€or,€if€no€responsiveÏpleading€is€required€by€these€rules,€onÏmotion€made€by€a€party€within€15€days€afterÏthe€service€of€the€pleading€or€on€the€court'sÏown€initiative€at€any€time,€the€court€mayÏorder€any€insufficient€defense€or€anyÏimproper,€immaterial,€impertinent,€orÏscandalous€matter€stricken€from€any€pleadingÏor€may€order€any€pleading€that€is€late€orÏotherwise€not€in€compliance€with€these€rulesÏstricken€in€its€entirety.€€ÌÌ€€(f)€€Consolidation€of€Defenses€in€MotionÌÌà ¸ à€€A€party€who€makes€a€motion€under€thisÏRule€may€join€with€it€any€other€motions€thenÏavailable€to€the€party.€€No€defense€orÏobjection€raised€pursuant€to€this€Rule€isÏwaived€by€being€joined€with€one€or€more€otherÐ .h)5 Ðsuch€defenses€or€objections€in€a€motion€underÏthis€Rule.€€If€a€party€makes€a€motion€underÏthis€Rule€but€omits€any€defense€or€objectionÏthen€available€to€the€party€that€this€RuleÏpermits€to€be€raised€by€motion,€the€partyÏshall€not€thereafter€make€a€motion€based€onÏthe€defenses€or€objections€so€omitted€exceptÏas€provided€in€Rule€2-324.€€ÌÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€derived€as€follows:€€Ì€€Section€(a)€is€derived€from€former€Rule€323Ï(a)€(1),€(2),€(3)€and€(4),€and€the€lastÏsentence€of€(b).€€Ì€€Section€(b)€is€new€and€is€derived€in€partÏfrom€FRCP€12€(b).€€€€€€€Ì€€Subsection€(b)€(2)€replaces€former€RulesÏ345€(Demurrer)€and€371€b€(Demurrer).€€Ì€€Section€(c)€is€new.€€Ì€€Section€(d)€is€new€and€is€derived€from€FRCPÏ12€(e).€It€replaces€former€Rule€346€(Bill€ofÏParticulars).€€Ì€€Section€(e)€is€derived€from€FRCP€12€(f),Ïand€in€part€from€former€Rules€301€j€and€322.€€Ì€€Section€(f)€is€new€and€is€derived€from€FRCPÏ12€(g).ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àRule€2„322€was€accompanied€by€the€following€Reporterððs€Note.ÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÌà ¸ àSee€the€Reporterððs€Note€to€the€proposedÏamendment€to€Rule€2„323.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àMr.€Brault€explained€that€the€Honorable€Paul€¢Mannes£,€a€judgeÏof€the€United€States€Bankruptcy€Court€for€the€District€ofÏMaryland,€had€written€a€letter€to€him,€suggesting€that€subsectionÏ(g)(4)€of€Rule€2„323€be€eliminated.€€See€Appendix€4.€€SubsectionÏ(g)(4)€provides€for€a€discharge€in€bankruptcy€or€insolvency€fromÏthe€plaintiffððs€claim€as€an€affirmative€defense.€€The€affirmativeÏdefenses€listed€in€section€(g),€if€not€specially€pleaded,€areÏwaived.€€Under€section€524€(a)€of€the€Bankruptcy€Reform€Act€ofÏ1978,€a€discharge€in€bankruptcy€is€operative€regardless€of€theÏaction€or€inaction€of€the€debtor€in€a€state€court€proceeding.€Ð P- (4 ÐBankruptcy€should€not€be€included€in€the€class€of€affirmativeÏdefenses€which€are€waived€if€not€specially€pleaded.€€TheÏSubcommittee€suggests€that€subsection€(g)(4)€be€stricken,€and€theÏrest€of€the€section€renumbered€accordingly.€€The€Subcommittee€isÏof€the€opinion€that€there€should€be€some€reference€to€bankruptcyÏin€Title€2,€Chapter€300€of€the€Rules,€so€that€the€plaintiff€andÏthe€court€are€made€aware€of€the€bankruptcy€and€of€any€factualÏdisputes€that€need€to€be€resolved.€€€The€Subcommittee€isÏsuggesting€that€bankruptcy€be€added€as€a€defense€that€isÏpermitted€to€be€made€by€a€motion€to€dismiss€filed€before€theÏanswer.€€This€would€entail€an€amendment€to€Rule€2„322€(b).€€JudgeÏVaughan€remarked€that€this€is€what€happens€now.€€Mr.€€Brault€saidÏthat€the€proposed€changes€would€conform€to€federal€bankruptcyÏlaw.€€The€Committee€approved€the€changes€to€Rules€2„323€and€2„322Ïby€consensus.€€ÌÓÓÌAgenda€Item€4.€€Continued€consideration€of€proposed€ProductsÌ€€Liability€Form€Interrogatories.€€(See€Appendix€3).Ì________________________________________________________________ÌÌÌÓÓà  àThe€Chair€stated€that€the€discussion€would€return€to€theÏtopic€of€Product€Liability€Interrogatories.€€The€Vice€ChairÏinquired€as€to€how€Interrogatory€No.73€is€different€from€similarÏinterrogatories.€€Mr.€Klein€responded€that€this€pertains€toÏnegligence,€as€opposed€to€strict€liability.€€Negligence€meansÏthat€someone€has€violated€a€standard€of€care,€while€strictÏliability€does€not€require€a€violation€of€a€standard€of€care.Ìà  àMr.€Klein€drew€the€Committeeððs€attention€to€InterrogatoryÏNo.€67.€€This€is€an€interrogatory€used€typically€in€multi„partyÐ P- (4 Ðcases.€€The€Chair€pointed€out€that€the€InterrogatoriesÏcontinually€ask€for€the€identity€of€the€person€and€the€documentÏafter€the€initial€question€in€No.€61.€€The€Vice€Chair€commentedÏthat€the€Form€Interrogatories€are€supposed€to€be€a€safe€harborÏand€not€create€a€system€more€burden€some€than€the€one€in€use€now.€ÏThere€is€a€General€Interrogatory€that€asks€for€the€identity€ofÏeach€person€who€has€information€and€a€description.€€This€is€aÏpreferable€way€to€ask€for€information€about€people.€€To€repeatÏthe€question€is€burdensome.€Ìà  àMr.€Hochberg€suggested€including€an€interrogatory€that€asksÏfor€a€list€of€people€with€knowledge€about€specific€areas.€€TheÏVice€Chair€inquired€as€to€why€No.€67€is€necessary.€€Mr.€KleinÏexpressed€the€opinion€that€it€should€stay.€€The€Chair€remarkedÏthat€there€are€unique€kinds€of€issues€in€product€liability€thatÏrequire€specific€disclosure€to€tie€an€expert€to€the€particularÏcontention.Ìà  àMr.€Howell€pointed€out€a€problem€with€No.€67.€€It€seems€toÏmake€a€mockery€of€the€30„interrogatory€rule.€€The€first€part,Ïidentifying€each€person,€is€appropriate,€but€the€remainder€isÏanother€separate€interrogatory.€€Mr.€Klein€agreed€that€theÏInterrogatory€could€be€separated€into€two€interrogatories.€€Ìà  àThe€Chair€pointed€out€that€contests€pertaining€toÏinterrogatories€require€judges€to€spend€days€working€out€theÏproblems€as€the€attorneys€battle.€€The€Form€Interrogatories€areÏto€be€presented€to€the€Court€of€Appeals€as€proper€questions€forÏthe€parties€to€ask.€€They€will€be€helpful€to€circuit€courtÏjudges,€as€well€as€attorneys,€even€if€the€interrogatories€areÐ P- (4 Ðoverlapping€and€extensive.€€It€is€appropriate€to€have€compoundÏinterrogatories€in€the€Form€Interrogatories.€€Mr.€Howell€agreedÏthat€compound€Form€Interrogatories€are€proper,€but€he€said€thatÏhe€objects€to€two€different€types€of€questions€in€a€singleÏinterrogatory.€€If€the€interrogatories€contain€two€unrelated€orÏremotely€related€topics,€this€will€encourage€a€practice€that€isÏdifficult€to€stop.€€It€is€appropriate€to€ask€someone€to€state€hisÏor€her€contention,€but€not€on€two€different€subject€matters.€€Ìà  àMr.€Klein€drew€the€Committeeððs€attention€to€InterrogatoryÏNo.€68,€and€there€was€no€discussion€of€this.€€Mr.€Klein€notedÏthat€Interrogatory€No.€69€will€substitute€the€word€ð ðharmðð€for€theÐ P  Ðlanguage€ð ðinjuries€or€damages,ðð€a€change€that€has€been€made€inÐ à0 Ðother€interrogatories.€€He€said€that€No.€70€is€only€appropriateÏif€a€product€was€installed.€€He€pointed€out€that€No.€71€pertainsÏto€notice€of€a€defect,€and€No.72€is€similar.€€No.€73€is€used€inÏnegligence,€as€opposed€to€strict€liability,€cases.€€ÏInterrogatory€No.€74€concerns€violations€of€statutes,Ïregulations,€and€standards,€to€zero€in€on€precisely€the€provisionÏat€issue.€€No.€75€will€be€changed€in€the€same€way€as€No.€69.€€ÏNo.€76€pertains€to€a€duty€to€test,€and€No.€77€concerns€new€orÏused€products€to€trace€the€chain€of€custody.€€Mr.€Sykes€pointedÏout€that€at€the€end€of€No.€77,€the€word€ð ðtheyðð€should€be€changedÐ €%Ð * Ðto€ð ðeach€person.ðð€€The€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€thisÐ '`", Ðchange.€€Mr.€Klein€said€that€No.€78€is€a€chain€of€custodyÏquestion.€€Mr.€Sykes€commented€that€there€may€not€be€a€streetÏaddress.€€The€Reporter€cautioned€against€providing€post€officeÏboxes€as€the€response.€€Mr.€Sykes€observed€that€the€question€isÐ P- (4 Ðlooking€for€where€the€product€is€kept.€€The€Chair€suggested€thatÏin€place€of€ð ðstreet€addressðð€the€language€ð ðlocation€at€whichððÐ @ Ðcould€be€substituted.€€Mr.€Klein€remarked€that€the€wordÐ Ð  Ðð ðlocationðð€is€vague.€€The€Vice€Chair€expressed€the€opinion€thatÐ ` ° Ðð ðstreet€addressðð€is€appropriate.€€The€Reporter€suggested€theÐ ð @ Ðfollowing€language:€€ð ðexact€location,€including€street€address,Ð € Ð  Ðif€any.ðð€€Mr.€Howell€asked€how€an€automobile€would€be€handled.€€Ð `  ÐThe€Chair€said€that€the€question€could€ask€ð ðfor€each€person,Ð  ð  Ðstate€the€address€of€the€person€who€had€custody.ðð€€The€CommitteeÐ 0€  Ðagreed€by€consensus€to€add€in€the€suggested€language€ð ðlocation,Ð À Ðincluding€street€address,€if€anyðð€which€had€been€suggested€by€theÐ P  ÐReporter.Ìà  àMr.€Klein€pointed€out€that€Interrogatory€No.€79€pertains€toÏmaintenance€and€repair€history.€€The€Chair€questioned€whether€theÏlanguage€ð ðbasis€of€your€awarenessðð€should€be€restyled.€€Mr.Ð à ÐHowell€noted€that€there€is€no€place€to€answer€about€which€repairsÏwere€made.€€The€Chair€suggested€that€the€following€language€couldÏbe€included:€€ð ðif€you€contend€that€maintenance€or€repair€wasÐ @" Ðcontemplated,€conducted,€or€should€have€been€conducted,€state€theÏbasis€for€your€contention.ðð€€Mr.€Klein€commented€that€this€isÐ `"°& Ðmore€than€a€contention.€€The€question€is€if€the€person€knows€theÏproduct€should€have€been€serviced.€€Mr.€Howell€suggested€that€theÏquestion€read:€€ð ðdescribe€any€maintenance€or€repair€that€wasÐ '`", Ðperformed€or€communicated€to€you.ðð€€The€Chair€suggested€that€theÐ  (ð#. Ðfollowing€language€be€added€in€after€the€word€ð ðrepairðð€and€beforeÐ 0*€%0 Ðthe€word€ð ðandðð€in€the€fourth€line:€€ð ðdescribe€any€maintenance€orÐ À+'2 Ðrepair€ññthat€œññwas›€conducted.ðð€€The€Committee€agreed€to€thisÐ P- (4 Ðsuggestion€by€consensus.€€The€Chair€remarked€that€the€languageÐ ° Ðð ðare€aware€ofðð€can€be€dangerous.Ð @ Ðà  àMr.€Sykes€noted€that€in€No.€81,€in€the€second€sentence,€itÏis€not€clear€what€the€antecedent€is€to€the€word€ð ðit.ðð€€TheÐ ` ° ÐReporter€suggested€that€in€lieu€of€the€words€ð ðmade€itðð€theÐ ð @ Ðlanguage€ð ðrecorded€the€imageðð€could€be€substituted.€€Mr.€SykesÐ € Ð  Ðremarked€that€the€photographer€did€not€record€the€image,€theÏdeveloper€did.€€The€Chair€suggested€that€the€second€sentence€ofÏNo.€81€begin€as€follows:€€ð ðIf€your€answer€is€affirmative,Ð 0€  Ðdescribe€the€medium€on€which€the€image€is€recorded,€ò òidentifyó ó€eachÐ À Ðò òpersonó ó€who€participated€in€that€process,€state€the€date€when€theÐ  ð Ðimage€was€made,€and€ò òidentifyó ó€the€ò òpersonó ó€who€has€present€custodyÐ €Ð Ðof€the€imageðð.€€The€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€this€change.€Ð `° Ðà  àThe€Chair€thanked€Mr.€Klein€and€his€Subcommittee€for€theirÏexcellent€work.€€The€Reporter€pointed€out€that€there€were€twoÏmore€items€in€the€package€for€discussion.€€The€Chair€stated€thatÏthese€items€will€be€considered€when€the€Form€Interrogatories€areÏreviewed.Ìà  àThe€Chair€adjourned€the€meeting.Ì