ÿWPC [ØwJó¢ÊEœYã\z-ÚŽg¥öÅžs–מÕð.”†ÁÒîA1ÉyÊ4¥ô#ósjŸî<øõ›n€Ûµhò>éw‰Ç2ªÁÃã\¢ª¢|<3UMÝØõ“—?iÄÛÒTmHÐý^b@<Ó¼ßXy+lô2ûXáÈ—Ë൒Vï Œ’k´ŒØ™™Ji ‰º”µtã ³Ûq.¿â†¦ ƒaA©¼P¸ æ{7ˆ7qË ¼BjEñv¶*ˆåÚfZØ:u+ó”+¯yºÔ‹æHþ1]EݼÚû“^næ™&Gþ^ÎLXÒ¿C,“X< xÄ»À@ÁZïþTGЃÄ%d+Û™ÎØz9Sšƒ«ÄÍm'_Ášþà%Gæé€ÃõX¶V©Q´Ò&q2¿ê‰[Š“ÇËòPò­%äeåA?H §$€\ñÿøà €ìŒL‰N[±ê¶Ç̼WêG #!¨UNÉ % 0(w@E4…™¨ mªU>Ábÿ˜HP LaserJet 4000 N PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0xÈhH  Z6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ wDxyDzD{|E}~€3rÕ(ñ~3|x€ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ´¤ìl9Z+&Courier Regular- ù-Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý›ÑX°ÑÔ€ XzXXXÔÑ€ ÑÑ8€Ñ<XXdìdì8ÑÑ  Ñà@\ \ ìàSTANDING€COMMITTEE€ON€RULES€ˆÐ ° Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòOF€PRACTICE€AND€PROCEDUREÐ xÈ ÐÌÌÓÓà  àóóMinutes€of€a€meeting€of€the€Rules€Committee€held€in€RoomÐ Ð  Т1100A£€of€the€Peopleððs€Resource€Center,€100€Community€Place,Ï¢Crownsville£,€Maryland,€on€Friday,€May€19,€2000.ÌÓÓÌà  àMembers€present:ÌÌLinda€M.€¢Schuett£,€Esq.,€Vice€ChairÌÌLowell€R.€Bowen,€Esq.à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àRobert€D.€Klein,€Esq.Ðh¸ (#(# ÐAlbert€D.€Brault,€Esq.à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àJoyce€H.€Knox,€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(#àDel.€Joseph€F.€¢Vallario£,€Jr.ЈØ(#(# ÐHon.€G.€R.€Hovey€Johnsonà0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àHon.€James€N.€VaughanÐP (#(# ÐHon.€Joseph€H.€H.€Kaplanà0 h àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àRobert€A.€Zarnoch,€Esq.Ðh(#(# ÐÌà  àIn€attendance:ÌÌSandra€F.€Haines,€Esq.,€ReporterÌSherie€B.€Libber,€Esq.,€Assistant€ReporterÌ¢Kathaleen£€Brault,€Esq.,€Administrative€Office€of€the€CourtsÌLouise€¢Phipps£€¢Senft£,€Baltimore€Mediation€CenterÌL.€¢Toyo£€¢Obayashi£,€Baltimore€Mediation€CenterÌNick€¢Beschen£ÌRachel€Wohl,€Esq.,€Maryland€Alternative€Dispute€ResolutionÌ€€CommissionÌHon.€Patrick€L.€Woodward,€Circuit€Court€for€Montgomery€CountyÌRobyn€¢Scates£,€Department€of€Human€ResourcesÌEva€¢Klain£,€Esq.,€American€Bar€AssociationÌRhonda€¢Lipkin£,€Esq.,€Legal€Aid€Bureau,€Inc.ÌMaster€Linda€¢Koban£,€Circuit€Court€for€Baltimore€CityÌAlthea€Jones,€Esq.,€Administrative€Office€of€the€CourtsÌKenneth€¢Wardlaw£,€Esq.,€Legal€Aid€Bureau,€Inc.ÌMitchell€¢Mirviss£,€Esq.,€¢Venable£,€¢Baetjer£€&€HowardÌÌÌÓÓà  àIn€the€absence€of€the€Chair,€the€Vice€Chair€convened€theÏmeeting.€€She€announced€that€the€Chair€was€progressing€well€afterÏhis€surgery.€€On€May€8,€2000,€the€Court€of€Appeals€held€aÏconference€on€the€¢144òòth£óó,€¢145òòth£óó,€and€¢147òòth£óó€Reports,€theÐ ø*H&1 Ðcontroversial€aspects€of€which€were€the€Rules€pertaining€toÏcontempt€matters€before€masters;€proposed€new€Rule€2„422.1,€Ð  .h)5  ÐInspection€of€Property€„„€Nonparty,€allowing€the€inspection€ofÏproperty€in€the€possession€or€control€of€a€nonparty;€the€AttorneyÏDiscipline€Rules;€and€the€Judicial€Disabilities€Commission€Rules.€ÏThe€Court€made€no€decision€on€these€Rules.€€The€only€changes€theÏCourt€made€were€the€housekeeping€changes€to€rules€which€containedÏthe€date€ð ð19___ðð€in€forms€and€the€deletion€of€obsolete€referencesÐ € Ð  Ðto€the€Code.€€The€Court€held€the€remainder€of€the€Rules€underÏstudy.€€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€told€the€Committee€that€the€June€RulesÏCommittee€meeting€would€be€held€at€¢Fergie£ððs€Restaurant€inÏEdgewater.€€She€had€suggested€that€some€of€the€meetings€be€heldÏoutside€of€the€Peopleððs€Resource€Center€on€a€more€regular€basis,Ïand€for€the€next€fiscal€year,€the€plan€is€tentatively€that€two€ofÏthe€meetings€will€be€held€elsewhere.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€said€that€the€minutes€of€the€March€10,€2000ÏRules€Committee€meeting€had€been€sent€to€all€of€the€CommitteeÏmembers.€€She€asked€if€there€were€any€additions€or€corrections.€ÏThere€being€none,€Mr.€Klein€moved€to€approve€the€minutes€asÏpresented,€the€motion€was€seconded,€and€it€passed€unanimously.€€Ìà  àMr.€Hochberg€asked€how€the€Court€of€Appeals€reacted€to€theÏAttorney€Discipline€Rules.€€The€Vice€Chair€replied€that€none€ofÏthe€judges€seemed€in€favor€of€the€Supplement€to€the€¢144òòth£óó€Report,Ð €%Ð * Ðcontaining€the€alternative€set€of€rules€for€a€one„tiered€system.€ÏSome€members€of€the€Court€seemed€to€be€moving€toward€supportingÏthe€two„tiered€system.€€The€questions€asked€indicated€that€theÏCourt€was€moving€toward€accepting€a€real€peer€review€processÏbefore€the€part€of€the€process€which€is€no€longer€confidential.€Ð P- (4 ÐMr.€Brault€expressed€the€view€that€the€Court€seems€to€be€splitÏfour€to€three€as€to€which€version€of€the€Rules€is€acceptable,€butÏhe€is€not€sure€which€alternative€will€be€accepted.€€He€noted€thatÏthe€system€in€the€District€of€Columbia€is€similar€to€theÏalternative€procedure€submitted€by€the€Committee.€€However,€inÏD.C.,€there€is€a€paid€professional€staff€which€consists€of€twoÏstaff€attorneys€and€two€other€administrative€staff€members€toÏhelp€run€the€system.€€Nothing€in€Maryland€compares€to€thisÏbecause€the€operation€of€the€Maryland€system€depends€entirelyÏupon€volunteers.€€The€only€paid€component€is€the€Office€of€BarÏCounsel.€€Melvin€¢Hirshman£,€Esq.,€Bar€Counsel€in€Maryland,€hadÏsaid€that€he€could€see€no€source€of€funds€for€a€comparableÏadministrative€staff€in€Maryland.€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€pointed€out€that€the€Honorable€Alan€M.Ï¢Wilner£,€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals,€is€opposed€to€the€two„¼tiered€system€because€other€professions€do€not€offer€twoÏevidentiary€hearings€when€their€members€are€disciplined.€€A€majorÏconcern€of€Judge€¢Wilner£€is€the€length€of€time€that€the€attorneyÏdiscipline€process€takes€in€Maryland.€€Some€cases€take€as€muchÏtime€as€six€or€eight€years€to€complete.€€Judge€¢Wilner£€hadÏsuggested€that€there€be€time€limits€for€completing€the€processÏand€sanctions€for€not€complying.€€Mr.€Brault€pointed€out€thatÏJames€L.€Thompson,€Esq.,€President€of€the€Maryland€State€BarÏAssociation€(¢MSBA£)€and€other€members€of€the€¢MSBA£€deserved€creditÏfor€their€contributions€to€the€proposed€attorney€disciplineÏrules.€€ÌÓÓÌÐ  .h)5 ÐAgenda€Item€1.€€Approval€of€certain€proposed€rules€changesÌ€€considered€at€the€April€7,€2000€meeting€of€the€Rules€CommitteeÌ€€(the€materials€for€approval€were€sent€to€Committee€members€byÌ€€Memorandum€dated€April€19,€2000):€Proposed€amendments€to:€RuleÌ€€7„102€(Modes€of€Appeal),€Rule€7„112€(Appeals€Heard€De€Novo),Ì€€Rule€7„202€(Method€of€Securing€Review),€Rule€7„206€(Record),Ì€€Rule€8„122€(Appeals€from€Proceedings€for€Adoption€orÌ€€Guardianship€„€Confidentiality),€Rule€8„501€(Record€Extract),Ì€€Rule€8„504€(Contents€of€Brief),€Rule€8„502€(Filing€of€Briefs),Ì€€and€Rule€8„602€(Dismissal€by€Court).€€(See€Appendix€1)Ì_________________________________________________________________ÌÌÌÓÓà  àThe€Vice€Chair€explained€that€when€Rules€7„102,€Modes€ofÏAppeal;€7„112,€Appeals€Heard€De€Novo;€Rule€7„202,€Method€ofÏSecuring€Review;€Rule€7„206,€Record;€8„122,€Appeals€fromÏProceedings€for€Adoption€or€Guardianship€„€Confidentiality;€8„¼501,€Record€Extract;€8„504,€Contents€of€Brief;€8„502,€Filings€ofÏBriefs;€and€8„602,€Dismissal€By€Court€were€considered€at€theÏApril€7,€2000€Rules€Committee€meeting,€a€quorum€was€no€longerÏpresent.€€A€copy€of€the€Rules€as€they€were€tentatively€approvedÏfor€change€at€the€April€meeting€was€sent€out€to€each€member€forÏcomment.€€Judge€Kaplan€moved€that€the€Rules€be€approved,€theÏmotion€was€seconded,€and€it€passed€unanimously.€€ÌÓÓÌAgenda€Item€2.€€Reconsideration€and€consideration€of€two€proposedÌ€€rules€changes€recommended€by€the€Alternative€Dispute€ResolutionÌ€€Subcommittee:€Reconsideration€of€proposed€new€Rule€17„109Ì€€(Mediation€Confidentiality)€and€Consideration€of€a€proposedÌ€€amendment€to€section€f€of€Rule€9„205€(Mediation€of€ChildÌ€€Custody€and€Visitation€Disputes)Ì_________________________________________________________________ÌÌÌÓÓà  àThe€Vice€Chair€stated€that€several€consultants€were€presentÏto€discuss€the€Alternative€Dispute€Resolution€(¢ADR£)€Rules,Ïincluding€Rachel€Wohl,€Esq.,€Executive€Director€of€the€¢ADR£ÏCommission;€Louise€¢Phipps£€¢Senft£,€of€the€Baltimore€MediationÏCenter;€Nick€¢Beschen£,€Director€of€Maryland€Association€ofÐ .h)5 ÐCommunity€Mediation€Centers;€and€L.€¢Toyo£€¢Obayashi£,€BaltimoreÏMediation€Center.Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€presented€Rule€17„109,€MediationÏConfidentiality,€for€the€Committeeððs€consideration.€€ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@P P ìàTITLE€17€„€ALTERNATIVE€DISPUTE€RESOLUTIONˆÌÌà@  ìàCHAPTER€100€„€PROCEEDINGS€IN€CIRCUIT€COURTˆÌÌÌà ¸ àADD€new€Rule€17„109,€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€17„109.€€MEDIATION€CONFIDENTIALITYÌÌÌ€€(a)€€MediatorÌÌà ¸ à€€Except€as€provided€in€sections€(c)€andÏ(d)€of€this€Rule,€(1)€a€mediator€shallÏmaintain€the€confidentiality€of€all€mediationÏcommunications€and€(2)€the€mediator€and€anyÏperson€present€at€the€request€of€the€mediatorÏmay€not€disclose€or€be€compelled€to€discloseÏmediation€communications€in€any€judicial,Ïadministrative,€or€other€adversarialÏproceeding.ÌÌ€€(b)€€PartiesÌÌà ¸ à€€Subject€to€the€provisions€of€sectionsÏ(c)€and€(d)€of€this€Rule,€(1)€the€parties€mayÏenter€into€a€written€agreement€to€maintainÏthe€confidentiality€of€all€mediationÏcommunications€and€to€require€any€personÏpresent€at€the€request€of€a€party€to€maintainÏthe€confidentiality€of€mediationÏcommunications€and€(2)€the€parties€and€anyÏperson€present€at€the€request€of€a€party€mayÏnot€be€compelled€to€disclose€mediationÏcommunications€in€any€judicial,Ïadministrative,€or€other€adversarialÏproceeding.ÌÌ€€(c)€€Signed€DocumentÌÌà ¸ à€€A€signed€document€that€reduces€toÏwriting€an€agreement€reached€by€the€partiesÐ .h)5 Ðas€a€result€of€mediation€is€not€confidential,Ïunless€the€parties€agree€in€writingÏotherwise.ÌÌCross€reference:€See€Rule€9„205€d€concerningÏthe€submission€of€an€agreement€to€the€courtÏin€child€access€cases.ÌÌ€€(d)€€ExceptionsÌÌà ¸ à€€In€addition€to€any€disclosuresÏrequired€by€law,€a€mediator€and€a€party€mayÏdisclose€or€report€mediation€communicationsÏto€a€potential€victim€or€to€the€appropriateÏauthorities€to€the€extent€that€they€believeÏit€necessary€to€help:ÌÌ€€€€(1)€€prevent€serious€bodily€harm€orÏdeath,€orÌÌ€€€€(2)€€allege€mediator€misconduct€or€defendÏa€mediator€against€allegations€of€misconduct.ÌÌCross€reference:€€For€the€legal€requirementÏto€report€suspected€acts€of€child€abuse,€seeÏCode,€Family€Law€Article,€ðð5„705.ÌÌ€€(e)€€Discovery;€Admissibility€ofÏInformationÌÌà ¸ à€€Mediation€communications€that€areÏconfidential€under€this€Rule€are€privilegedÏand€not€subject€to€discovery.€€InformationÏotherwise€admissible€or€subject€to€discoveryÏdoes€not€become€inadmissible€or€protectedÏfrom€disclosure€solely€by€reason€of€its€useÏin€mediation.ÌÌSource:€€This€Rule€is€new.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` Òà  àRule€17„109€was€accompanied€by€the€following€ReporterððsÌÌNote.ÌÌÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àNew€Rule€17„109€is€proposed€by€theÏAlternative€Dispute€Resolution€SubcommitteeÏin€response€to€a€recommendation€of€theÏMaryland€Alternative€Dispute€ResolutionÏCommission€set€out€in€the€CommissionððsÏPractical€Action€Plan€(December,€1999).ÌÌà ¸ àSection€(a)€imposes€a€duty€ofÐ .h)5 Ðconfidentiality€upon€the€mediator€and€allÏpersons€who,€at€the€request€of€the€mediator,Ïare€present€at€the€mediation.€€TheÏSubcommittee€did€not€specifically€include€theÏmediatorððs€employees€in€section€(a)€becauseÏit€believes€that€requiring€the€mediator€toÏmaintain€confidentiality€includes€theÏobligation€on€the€part€of€the€mediator€toÏrequire€the€mediatorððs€staff€to€maintainÏconfidentiality.€€Section€(a)€also€includes€aÏbroad€protection€against€compelled€disclosureÏin€ð ðany€judicial,€administrative,€or€otherÐ H ˜  Ðadversarial€proceeding.ðð€€When€applicable,Ð `  Ðthe€exceptions€set€out€in€sections€(c)€andÏ(d)€of€this€Rule€override€the€provisions€ofÏsection€(a).ÌÌà ¸ àSubject€to€the€provisions€of€sectionsÏ(c)€and€(d),€section€(b)€allows€the€partiesÏto€determine€whether€they€and€any€personsÏthey€bring€to€the€mediation€will€maintainÏconfidentiality.€€In€the€absence€of€a€writtenÏagreement€to€the€contrary,€the€parties€mayÏdisclose€mediation€communications.€€TheÏSubcommittee€believes€that€allowing€thisÏdisclosure€enables€the€parties€to€obtainÏopinions,€advice,€and€information€that€mayÏhelp€them€reach€an€informed€agreement€in€theÏmediation.€€Regardless€of€whether€the€partiesÏagree€to€maintain€confidentiality,€subsectionÏ(b)(2)€provides€to€parties€the€sameÏprotection€against€compelled€disclosure€thatÏis€provided€to€mediators€in€section€(a).ÌÌà ¸ àUnder€section€(c),€any€signed€documentÏthat€reduces€to€writing€an€agreement€reachedÏby€the€parties€as€a€result€of€mediation€isÏnot€confidential,€unless€the€parties€agree€inÏwriting€otherwise.€€The€Subcommittee€debatedÏlimiting€this€section€to€ð ðfinalðð€agreements,Ð (#x' Ðbut€concluded€that€it€is€not€always€clearÏwhen€an€agreement€is€ð ðfinal.ðð€€Following€theÐ ¸$ ) Ðsection€is€a€cross€reference€to€Rule€9„205€d,Ïconcerning€the€submission€of€agreements€toÏthe€court€in€child€access€cases.ÌÌà ¸ àSection€(d)€exempts€from€theÏconfidentiality€requirements€of€the€RuleÏdisclosures€that€are€required€by€law€andÏdisclosures€that€the€mediator€or€a€partyÏbelieves€necessary€to€help€(1)€preventÏserious€bodily€harm€or€death€or€(2)€allegeÏmediator€misconduct€or€defend€a€mediatorÏagainst€allegations€of€misconduct.€€FollowingÐ .h)5 Ðsection€(d)€is€a€cross€reference€to€Code,ÏFamily€Law€Article,€ðð5„705€concerningÏreporting€requirements€if€acts€of€child€abuseÏare€suspected.ÌÌà ¸ àThe€first€sentence€of€section€(e)Ïprovides€that€mediation€communications€thatÏare€confidential€under€the€Rule€areÏprivileged€and€not€subject€to€discovery.€€TheÏsecond€sentence€of€section€(e)€makes€clearÏthat€by€using€otherwise€admissible€orÏdiscoverable€information€in€mediation,€aÏperson€does€not€render€that€informationÏinadmissible€or€not€subject€to€discovery.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Vice€Chair€explained€that€Rule€17„109€had€been€discussedÏat€the€April€7,€2000€Rules€Committee€meeting,€and€it€had€beenÏsent€back€to€the€¢ADR£€Subcommittee€for€further€work.€€DiscussionsÏhad€centered€on€the€difference€between€confidentiality€for€aÏmediator€and€for€a€party€and€on€what€happens€when€third€partiesÏcome€in.€€There€had€been€no€provision€for€the€situation€where€aÏcomplaint€is€made€against€a€mediator€for€malpractice€or€for€whenÏa€mediator€wishes€to€defend€his€or€her€actions.€€The€last€versionÏof€the€Rule€appeared€to€require€complete€confidentiality.€€ManyÏof€the€consultants€attended€the€Subcommittee€meeting€at€which€theÏRule€was€discussed.€€There€is€one€change€to€the€version€of€theÏRule€in€the€meeting€materials,€the€addition€of€the€languageÐ `"°& Ðð ðdisclose€orðð€in€section€(b)€after€the€word€ð ðbeðð€and€before€theÐ ð#@( Ðword€ð ðcompelledðð€in€the€seventh€line€on€the€page.€€Otherwise,€theÐ €%Ð * Ðlanguage€of€the€Rule€was€unanimously€agreed€upon€by€theÏSubcommittee€and€consultants.€€This€version€of€the€Rule€separatesÏout€confidentiality€relating€to€the€mediator€and€to€the€parties.€ÏEach€provision€deals€with€the€people€present€at€the€request€ofÏthe€mediator€or€at€the€request€of€a€party.€€€The€exceptions€toÐ P- (4 Ðconfidentiality€are€spelled€out€in€section€(d).€€Section€(e)Ïpertains€to€mediation€communications,€the€definition€of€which€isÏin€the€meeting€materials,€but€it€has€not€been€styled.Ìà  àMr.€Klein€pointed€out€that€the€last€five€words€of€sectionÏ(a)€may€mean€that€the€mediator€and€any€person€present€at€theÏrequest€of€the€mediator€may€be€compelled€to€disclose€at€aÏlegislative€hearing€or€a€hearing€of€some€other€governmental€bodyÏwhich€has€the€power€to€compel€testimony.€€He€expressed€the€viewÏthat€the€language€of€the€Rule€is€not€broad€enough€to€cover€thisÏsituation.€€The€Vice€Chair€commented€that€the€Uniform€MediationÏAct€does€not€use€the€same€language.€€She€remarked€that€aÏlegislative€hearing€normally€is€not€considered€ð ðadversarial,ðð€butÐ à0 Ðthe€United€States€Congress€and€other€bodies€have€the€right€toÏcompel€testimony.€€Mr.€Bowen€suggested€that€the€wordÐ P Ðð ðadversarialðð€be€stricken€from€section€(a).€€Mr.€Sykes€suggestedÐ à Ðthat€the€section€end€with€the€word€ð ðcommunicationsðð€in€the€fifthÐ  p Ðline.€€The€Vice€Chair€clarified€that€what€is€being€referred€to€isÏthe€proceedings€between€the€same€parties€in€court.€€She€agreedÏthat€the€word€ð ðadversarialðð€should€be€stricken.€€Mr.€Klein€askedÐ Ð $ Ðif€the€word€ð ðgovernmentalðð€should€be€added€to€the€end€of€sectionÐ `"°& Ð(a)€to€make€this€clearer.Ìà  àMr.€Sykes€questioned€whether€persons€present€at€theÏmediation€are€allowed€to€go€to€the€press€with€information€aboutÏthe€mediation.€€Ms.€Wohl€suggested€that€the€language€ð ðand€anyÐ  (ð#. Ðperson€present€at€the€request€of€the€mediatorðð€should€be€added€toÐ 0*€%0 Ðsubsection€(1)€of€section€(a).€€Mr.€Sykes€proposed€that€a€broadÏstatement€should€be€added€which€would€provide€that€one€cannotÐ P- (4 Ðdiscuss€voluntarily€or€anywhere€be€compelled€to€discloseÏmediation€communications.€€Mr.€Bowen€said€that€the€Rule€shouldÏprovide€that€a€mediator€may€not€discuss€the€mediation€and€aÏmediator€cannot€be€compelled€to€discuss€the€mediation.€€JudgeÏDryden€noted€that€this€could€mean€that€a€person€present€at€theÏmediation€could€disclose€mediation€communications.Ìà  àJudge€Kaplan€suggested€that€section€(a)€end€at€the€wordÐ `  Ðð ðcommunications,ðð€the€second€time€the€word€appears.€€The€ViceÐ  ð  ÐChair€pointed€out€that€subsection€(a)(1)€is€not€a€sufficientlyÏstrong€statement.€€Language€providing€that€a€person€present€atÏthe€mediation€should€maintain€confidentiality€should€be€added.€ÏLanguage€may€need€to€be€added€to€indicate€that€to€maintainÏconfidentiality,€the€person€should€talk€to€no€one€about€theÏmediation.€€Mr.€Sykes€questioned€the€language€in€section€(a)Ïwhich€reads€ð ða€mediator€shall€maintain€the€confidentiality€of€allÐ à Ðmediation€communications...ðð.€€The€language€in€subsection€(a)(2)Ð  p Ðprovides€that€a€mediator€may€not€disclose€or€be€compelled€toÏdisclose€mediation€communications.€€Maintaining€confidentialityÏis€quite€different€than€not€disclosing€or€being€compelled€toÏdisclose.€€Ms.€¢Senft£€remarked€that€subsection€(a)(2)€is€outsideÏof€the€mediation€context.€€The€purpose€was€that€this€provisionÏwould€be€broad€and€ironclad.€€Ìà  àMs.€Wohl€suggested€that€subsection€(a)(1)€could€be€deleted.€ÏThe€language€in€subsection€(a)(2)€could€be€changed€to€readÐ  (ð#. Ðð ð...mediation€communications,€including€in€any€judicial,Ð 0*€%0 Ðadministrative...ðð.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€subsectionsÐ À+'2 Ð(a)(1)€and€(a)(2)€could€be€combined€into€a€strong€statement€thatÐ P- (4 Ða€mediator€and€any€person€present€at€the€request€of€the€mediatorÏshall€maintain€the€confidentiality€of€all€mediationÏcommunications€and€shall€not€disclose€or€be€compelled€to€discloseÏany€mediation€communications€in€any€judicial,€administrative,€orÏother€proceeding.€€Section€(a)€would€read€as€follows:€€ð ðExcept€asÐ ð @ Ðprovided€in€sections€(c)€and€(d)€of€this€Rule,€a€mediator€and€anyÏperson€present€at€the€request€of€the€mediator€shall€maintain€theÏconfidentiality€of€all€mediation€communications€and€may€notÏdisclose€or€be€compelled€to€disclose€mediation€communications€inÏany€judicial,€administrative,€or€other€adversarial€proceeding.ðð€Ð À ÐThe€Committee€agreed€by€consensus€to€this€change.Ìà  àMr.€Brault€commented€that€this€Rule€is€different€from€otherÏconfidentiality€rules.€€Other€rules€have€a€specific€provisionÏthat€all€communications€are€confidential.€€Rule€17„109€does€notÏcontain€this€kind€of€language.€€Mr.€Bowen€pointed€out€that€oneÏproblem€with€the€Rule€is€that€a€mediator€often€may€speak€to€eachÏof€the€parties€separately.€€The€mediator€may€ask€one€party€whatÏhe€or€she€may€tell€the€other€party.€€If€all€communications€areÏconfidential,€that€would€mean€that€the€mediator€could€not€tellÏthe€other€party€anything.€€Mr.€Sykes€observed€that€section€(a)€isÏnot€intended€to€prevent€a€mediator€from€disclosing€something€fromÏone€party€to€another€as€long€as€the€parties€consent.€€He€askedÏabout€Mr.€Braultððs€statement€that€all€mediation€communication€isÏconfidential.€€Mr.€Bowen€responded€that€this€is€not€accurate.Ìà  àJudge€Kaplan€expressed€the€opinion€that€subsection€(a)(1)€isÏappropriate.€€In€subsection€(a)(2),€the€sentence€should€end€withÏthe€word€ð ðcommunications,ðð€or€the€word€ð ðadversarialðð€should€beÐ P- (4 Ðdeleted.€€The€Vice€Chair€commented€that€the€Subcommittee€seems€toÏprefer€taking€out€the€word€ð ðadversarial.ðð€€Mr.€Hochberg€suggestedÐ @ Ðthat€in€subsection€(a)(2),€the€word€ð ðmayðð€should€be€changed€toÐ Ð  Ðthe€word€ð ðshall.ðð€Ð ` ° Ѐà  àThe€Vice€Chair€commented€that€outside€of€section€(a),€thereÐ ð @ Ðshould€be€a€statement€of€confidentiality,€as€Mr.€Brault€pointedÏout.€€Mr.€Brault€suggested€that€the€statement€could€be€that€theÏparties€shall€maintain€as€confidential€all€mediationÏcommunications.€€Mr.€Sykes€commented€that€maintainingÏconfidentiality€means€maintaining€as€confidential€that€which€hasÏbeen€designated€as€confidential.€€Mr.€Bowen€said€that€it€reallyÏmeans€maintaining€as€confidential€with€respect€to€third€partiesÏthat€which€has€been€designated€as€non„confidential€during€theÏmediation.€€The€Vice€Chair€commented€that€section€(a)€is€notÏintended€to€apply€inside€to€the€mediation.€€Judge€Kaplan€addedÏthat€it€applies€to€outside€sources.€€Ms.€¢Senft£€suggested€thatÏthere€could€be€a€Committee€note€which€would€provide€that€withinÏthe€mediation€session,€the€parties€have€authority€to€disclose.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€stated€that€all€agree€that€conferring€betweenÏthe€parties€in€different€rooms€is€an€appropriate€mediationÏtechnique.€€It€is€often€used€in€the€mediation€of€commercialÏdisputes,€but€it€is€not€the€standard€in€domestic€cases.€€AÏCommittee€note€could€provide€that€the€Rule€is€not€intended€toÏapply€to€a€mediator€dealing€with€parties€in€two€separate€rooms.€€€ÏMr.€Sykes€suggested€that€a€subparagraph€could€be€added€to€theÏexceptions€which€would€provide€that€with€the€consent€of€theÏparties,€a€mediator€may€disclose€to€another€party€a€matter€statedÐ P- (4 Ðto€the€mediator€during€the€mediation.€€The€Vice€Chair€remarkedÏthat€in€95%€of€¢mediations£,€this€is€not€sensible,€unless€one€is€ofÏa€commercial€litigation€¢mindset£.€€Mr.€Brault€said€that€this€is€aÏ¢definitional£€trap.€€Commercial€mediation€is€more€like€aÏsettlement€negotiation.€€Most€¢mediations£€do€not€involve€havingÏthe€parties€in€separate€rooms,€with€someone€going€back€and€forthÏoffering€different€numbers€for€settlement.€€The€Vice€Chair€notedÏthat€at€a€traditional€settlement€conference,€the€judges€putÏpeople€in€different€rooms.€€Using€two€separate€rooms€helps€theÏmediator€learn€each€sideððs€view.€€Ms.€Wohl€observed€that€theÏprohibition€against€disclosure€is€not€meant€to€apply€to€internalÏcommunications.€Ìà  àJudge€Kaplan€inquired€as€to€whether€the€change€to€sectionsÏ(a)€and€(b)€will€be€ending€the€sections€with€the€wordÐ P Ðð ðcommunicationsðð€or€deleting€the€word€ð ðadversarial.ðð€€The€ViceÐ à ÐChair€suggested€that€the€word€ð ðadversarialðð€be€deleted,€and€theÐ  p ÐCommittee€agreed€with€this€suggestion€by€consensus.€Ìà  àMr.€Sykes€asked€if,€under€section€(b),€the€parties€mayÏdisclose€mediation€communications€if€they€do€not€enter€into€aÏwritten€agreement.€€Ms.€Wohl€answered€that€the€agreement€coversÏcommunications€to€others.€€Typically,€parties€want€to€talk€toÏother€people,€such€as€a€spouse€or€attorney.€€People€should€beÏfree€to€seek€advice.€€The€parties€can€talk€to€others,€but€theyÏmay€not€disclose€mediation€communications€in€a€proceeding.€€Or,Ïthe€parties€could€agree€that€they€are€not€allowed€to€disclose€toÏanyone.€€Ms.€¢Senft£€added€that€they€may€agree€to€not€disclose€aÏparticular€aspect€of€the€mediation.€€Mr.€Sykes€questioned€whetherÐ P- (4 Ðsomeone€can€tell€his€or€her€spouse,€who€can€then€go€the€press€ifÏthere€is€no€written€agreement.€€Ms.€Wohl€commented€that€theÏlanguage€ð ðor€other€personsðð€could€be€added€to€subsection€(b)(1).Ð Ð  Ðà  àThe€Vice€Chair€inquired€if€one€is€entitled€to€require€thatÏhis€or€her€accountant€keep€communications€confidential.€€Is€itÏintended€that€if€a€confidentiality€agreement€is€signed€at€theÏfirst€mediation€session,€the€communications€to€the€accountant€areÏstill€confidential€after€the€third€or€fourth€session,€or€mustÏanother€agreement€be€signed?€€Mr.€Sykes€noted€that€parties€cannotÏrequire€a€third€person€to€maintain€confidentiality.€€The€ViceÏChair€said€that€this€could€be€a€condition€in€the€agreement.€€Mr.ÏBrault€inquired€as€to€how€an€agreement€could€preclude€someoneÏfrom€telling€his€or€her€spouse€something.€€No€penalty€exists€forÏa€breach€of€the€agreement.€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€asked€if€the€language€ð ðor€any€other€personððÐ à Ðshould€be€added€to€subsection€(b)(1)€in€the€fourth€line.€€TheÏCommittee€responded€in€the€negative.€€Delegate€¢Vallario£€inquiredÏif€someone€could€hold€a€press€conference€concerningÏcommunications€from€a€mediation.€€The€Vice€Chair€replied€thatÏunder€subsection€(b)(1),€a€party€may€agree€to€keep€thisÏconfidential.€€€Mr.€Klein€pointed€out€that€there€is€a€gap€„„€theÏRule€prohibits€everyone€from€disclosing€in€a€proceeding,€but€doesÏnot€prohibit€a€party€or€a€person€present€at€the€mediation€at€theÏrequest€of€a€party€from€disclosing€outside€of€a€proceeding.€€TheÏVice€Chair€responded€that€as€a€preliminary€matter,€this€has€to€beÏresolved€up€front.€€Ìà  àMs.€Wohl€observed€that€in€section€(e),€mediationÐ P- (4 Ðcommunications€that€are€confidential€are€also€inadmissible.€€Mr.ÏKlein€commented€that€if€no€agreement€is€reached,€the€parties€canÏtell€someone€what€happened€at€the€mediation.€€Ms.€Wohl€observedÏthat€the€third€party€could€be€compelled€to€testify,€but€partiesÏand€the€mediator€cannot€be€compelled.€Ìà  àMr.€Brault€noted€that€discussions€of€settlement€areÏinadmissible€in€court.€€Ms.€Wohl€added€that€they€are€inadmissibleÏto€prove€the€underlying€case,€but€may€be€used€for€impeachmentÏpurposes.€€The€Vice€Chair€questioned€the€meaning€of€the€secondÏsentence€in€section€(e).€€Ms.€Wohl€answered€that€an€example€of€aÏcommunication€that€is€otherwise€admissible€would€be€the€admissionÏby€someone€during€a€mediation€to€having€previously€committed€aÏcrime.€€The€Vice€Chair€said€that€just€because€information€wasÏgiven€to€an€accountant€or€attorney,€it€€is€not€automaticallyÏprivileged.€€If€the€information€was€developed€independently€ofÏthe€mediation,€it€is€admissible.€€Ms.€Wohl€stated€thatÏinformation€given€during€the€mediation€is€inadmissible€andÏsuggested€that€the€word€ð ðinadmissibleðð€be€added€to€section€(e).€Ð @" ÐMr.€Bowen€expressed€the€opinion€that€the€section€should€not€beÏchanged.Ìà  àMr.€Brault€commented€that€at€the€April€2000€meeting€of€theÏRules€Committee,€he€had€discussed€medical€peer€review.€€MostÏaspects€of€this€are€privileged,€private,€and€confidential,€but€ifÏthree€nurses€testify€at€the€hearing€that€they€saw€a€physicianÏdrunk€in€the€operating€room,€this€is€not€necessarily€inadmissibleÏin€the€trial€against€the€physician.€€Ms.€Wohl€added€that€theÏnurses€can€testify€at€the€trial€to€their€eyewitness€observations,Ð P- (4 Ðbut€if,€during€the€peer€review,€some€terrible€fact€is€learned,Ïthe€nurses€cannot€testify€later€as€to€that€fact.€€Mr.€BowenÏremarked€that€this€would€be€hearsay.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€drew€the€Committeeððs€attention€to€sectionÏ(c).€€She€explained€that€at€the€April€meeting,€Mr.€Bowen€hadÏsuggested€that€the€last€part€of€section€(e)€of€Rule€17„102€shouldÏbe€moved€to€section€(c)€of€Rule€17„109.€€Mr.€Sykes€inquired€as€toÏwho€signs€the€document.€€Can€the€mediator€sign€the€document?€€€ÏThe€Vice€Chair€answered€that€what€is€intended€is€that€theÏdocument€is€signed€by€the€parties.€€Ìà  àSection€(d)€contains€the€two€exceptions€to€confidentiality.€ÏMr.€Brault€commented€that€before€Rule€1.6€of€the€MarylandÏLawyersðð€Rules€of€Professional€Conduct€was€revised,€the€formerÏrule€provided€that€the€attorney€could€reveal€what€a€client€hadÏpreviously€told€the€attorney€only€to€prevent€serious€bodily€harmÏor€death.€€When€the€rule€was€revised,€permission€for€the€attorneyÏto€disclose€information€to€prevent€serious€financial€harm€wasÏadded.€€Should€the€mediation€rule€include€this,€also?€€The€ViceÏChair€responded€that€this€was€in€a€previous€draft€of€the€Rule,Ïbut€it€was€deleted€by€the€Subcommittee.Ìà  àMs.€Wohl€pointed€out€that€people€in€a€mediation€have€to€beÏable€to€speak€freely,€especially€on€issues€that€they€would€notÏtalk€about€in€court.€€The€Vice€Chair€said€that€if€the€concept€ofÏserious€financial€harm€is€added€in€as€an€exception,€it€is€notÏclear€exactly€what€this€means.€€This€was€considered€and€rejectedÏas€not€advisable€as€an€exception€to€confidentiality€in€aÏmediation.Ð P- (4 Ðà  àThe€Vice€Chair€drew€the€Committeeððs€attention€to€sectionÏ(e).€€Mr.€Sykes€suggested€that€the€two€sentences€of€section€(e)Ïbe€combined€into€one€by€deleting€the€period€after€the€wordÐ Ð  Ðð ðdiscoveryðð€and€adding€in€a€comma€and€the€word€ð ðbut.ðð€€€He€saidÐ ` ° Ðthat€the€Style€Subcommittee€could€look€at€this.€€Ìà  àThe€Committee€approved€Rule€17„109€as€amended.Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€presented€Rule€9„205,€Mediation€of€ChildÏCustody€and€Visitation€Disputes,€for€the€CommitteeððsÏconsideration.€€€ÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒÓÓÌà@˜ ˜ ìàMARYLAND€RULES€OF€PROCEDUREˆÌÌà@\ \ ìàTITLE€9€„€FAMILY€LAW€ACTIONSˆÌÌà@œ œ ìàCHAPTER€200€„€DIVORCE,€ANNULMENT€AND€ALIMONYˆÌÌÌà ¸ àAMEND€Rule€9„205€for€conformity€withÏproposed€new€Rule€17„109,€as€follows:ÌÌÌRule€9-205.€€MEDIATION€OF€CHILD€CUSTODY€ANDÏVISITATION€DISPUTES.ÌÌ€€€.€.€.ÌÌ€€f.€€Confidentiality.ÌÌ€€€€€€ò òExcept€for€an€agreement€submitted€toÐ ˜!è% Ðthe€court€pursuant€to€section€d€of€this€Rule,Ïno€statement€or€writing€made€in€the€course€ofÏmediation€is€subject€to€discovery€orÏadmissible€in€evidence€in€any€proceedingÏunder€this€Chapter€unless€the€parties€andÏtheir€counsel€agree€otherwise€in€writing.€ÏNeither€the€mediator€nor€an€attorney€may€beÏcalled€as€a€witness€in€such€a€proceeding€toÏgive€evidence€regarding€the€mediation€orÏcustody€or€visitation.ó ó€€û€€€(ûConfidentiality€ofÐ h)¸$/ Ðmediation€communications€under€this€Rule€isÏgoverned€by€Rule€17„109.ü€€€(üÌò òÌCommittee€note:€€See€Code,€Family€LawÏArticle,€ðð5-701€et€seq.€for€provisions€thatÏrequire€the€reporting€of€suspected€childÐ .h)5 Ðabuse.ó óÐ ° ÐÌû€€€(ûCross€reference:€For€the€definition€ofÐ @ Ðð ðmediation€communication,ðð€see€Rule€17„102Ð X Ð(e).ü€€€(üÌÌÓÓ€€€.€.€.ÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà0  àRule€9„205€was€accompanied€by€the€following€Reporterððs€Note.Ð (#(# ÐÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Òà ¸ àWith€the€proposed€addition€of€new€RuleÏ17„109€(Mediation€Confidentiality)€and€theÏproposed€addition€of€a€definition€ofÐ `  Ðð ðmediation€communicationðð€to€Rule€17„102,Ð Ø(  ÐRule€9„205€f€is€proposed€to€be€amended€toÏprovide€that€the€more€comprehensiveÏprovisions€of€Rule€17„109€govern€theÏconfidentiality€of€mediation€communicationsÏunder€Rule€9„205.€€A€cross€reference€to€theÏdefinition€of€ð ðmediation€communicationðð€isÐ ˆØ Ðalso€proposed€to€be€added.ÌÌÌÒ°` ÒÒ°` ÒÓÓà  àThe€Vice€Chair€explained€that€Rule€9„205€is€recommended€toÏbe€changed€to€provide€that€the€more€comprehensive€provisions€ofÏRule€17„109€govern€the€confidentiality€of€mediationÏcommunications€under€Rule€9„205.€€There€being€no€discussion,€theÏRule€was€approved€as€presented.€€ÌÓÓÌAgenda€Item€3.€€Consideration€of:€€A€proposed€amendment€to€RuleÌ€€1.14€in€Appendix:€The€Maryland€Rules€of€Professional€ConductÌ€€and€Proposed€new€Appendix:€Uniform€Guidelines€of€RepresentationÌ€€for€Attorneys€Representing€Children€in€CINA€and€Related€¢TPR£€andÌ€€Adoption€Proceedings.€€(See€Appendix€2)Ì_________________________________________________________________ÌÌÓÓà  àThe€Vice€Chair€said€that€several€consultants€were€present€toÏdiscuss€Agenda€Item€3.€€They€were:€€The€Honorable€PatrickÏWoodward,€Circuit€Court€for€Montgomery€County€and€Chair€of€theÏFoster€Care€Court€Improvement€Project€Implementation€Committee;ÏMaster€Linda€¢Koban£,€Circuit€Court€for€Baltimore€City;€RhondaÏ¢Lipkin£,€Esq.,€Legal€Aid€Bureau;€Mitchell€¢Mirviss£,€Esq.,€¢Venable£,Ï¢Baetjer£,€and€Howard,€and€former€Legal€Aid€attorney;€Robin€¢Scates£,Ð .h)5 ÐEsq.,€Department€of€Human€Resources;€Eva€¢Klain£,€Esq.,€ABA;ÏKenneth€¢Wardlaw£,€Esq.,€Legal€Aid€Bureau;€Althea€Jones,€Esq.€andÏ¢Kathaleen£€Brault,€Esq.,€Foster€Care€Improvement€Project€staff.Ìà  àMr.€Brault€told€the€Committee€that€there€had€been€severalÏdifficult€cases€involving€children€in€foster€care.€€A€recentÏexample€was€in€the€District€of€Columbia.€€An€attorney€had€beenÏappointed€to€represent€the€child,€a€toddler€girl.€€The€motherÏwanted€her€child€returned€to€her,€so€the€motherððs€attorney€hadÏcontacted€the€childððs€attorney.€€A€consent€order€was€drawn€up,Ïand€the€judge€signed€it.€€At€Christmastime,€the€child€wasÏreturned€to€her€mother,€who€then€killed€the€little€girl.€ÏApparently,€the€judge€had€not€received€some€material€from€theÏDepartment€of€Social€Services€indicating€that€the€mother€was€notÏready€to€take€care€of€the€child.€€The€case€generated€much€commentÏfrom€the€press,€which€criticized€the€Department€of€SocialÏServices€as€well€as€the€judge.€€Mr.€Brault€said€that€he€hadÏspoken€with€several€other€D.C.€judges,€who€all€agreed€that€thisÏtype€of€situation€could€happen€to€any€one€of€them.€€Both€the€ViceÏChair€and€Judge€Johnson€expressed€their€criticism€of€the€judge€inÏthe€case.€€Mr.€Brault€stated€that€the€childððs€attorney€shouldÏhave€investigated€the€stability€of€the€motherððs€home€life€beforeÏagreeing€to€the€consent€order.Ìà  àMr.€¢Mirviss£€told€the€Committee€that€about€10€years€ago,€heÏwas€involved€in€the€case€of€òòBaltimore€City€Department€of€SocialÐ  (ð#. ÐServices€v.€¢Bouknight£óó,€493€U.S.€549€(1990),€in€which€a€three„Ð 0*€%0 Ðmonth„old€child€had€been€placed€in€foster€care€because€he€hadÏbeen€abused€by€his€mentally€ill€mother.€€The€abuse€was€so€severeÐ P- (4 Ðthat€the€child€had€to€be€placed€in€a€body€cast.€€Several€monthsÏlater,€after€the€mother€went€through€counseling,€she€claimed€thatÏshe€was€ready€to€get€her€child€back.€€The€court€ordered€anÏevaluation,€but€the€Baltimore€City€Department€of€Social€ServicesÏ(DSS)€did€not€disclose€the€evaluation€to€the€court,€nor€did€theÏchildððs€attorney€see€it.€€The€evaluation€revealed€that€the€motherÏwas€pathologically€ill,€and€that€there€was€a€severe€risk€of€theÏchild€being€killed.€€The€evaluation€was€forgotten.€€The€child€wasÏreturned€later€to€the€mother€pursuant€to€a€court€order€withÏextensive€conditions,€but€the€case€was€not€monitored.€€Six€monthsÏlater,€the€mother€appeared€to€be€in€a€daze,€and€the€father€hadÏbeen€killed€in€a€shooting.€€The€DSS€petitioned€to€remove€theÏchild€from€the€motherððs€control€after€she€lied€about€theÏwhereabouts€of€the€child.€€She€resisted€the€courtððs€order€toÏproduce€her€child,€relying€on€her€Fifth€Amendment€rights.€€TheÏcase€went€to€the€U.S.€Supreme€Court,€which€held€that€a€mother€whoÏis€the€custodian€of€her€child€pursuant€to€a€court€order€may€notÏinvoke€the€Fifth€Amendment€privilege€against€self„incriminationÏto€resist€a€subsequent€court€order€to€produce€the€child.€€TheÏmother€spent€7ðð€years€in€the€Baltimore€City€Detention€Center€heldÏon€a€civil€contempt€charge.€€Ìà  àMr.€¢Mirviss£€noted€that€the€attorney€representing€the€childÏwas€a€good€attorney€who€had€a€very€large€caseload.€€His€mistakeÏwas€not€pressing€to€see€the€evaluation€pertaining€to€the€mother.€€ÏThe€problem€is€the€climate€created€when€the€attorneysÏrepresenting€children€are€handling€15€or€16€cases€a€day.€€TheyÏcannot€investigate,€go€to€the€childrenððs€homes,€or€obtain€theÐ P- (4 Ðnecessary€information€to€handle€a€case.€€The€Vice€Chair€asked€whoÏthe€attorneys€were€in€the€case.€€Mr.€¢Mirviss£€answered€that€aÏlawyer€from€Legal€Aid€represented€the€child€and€a€lawyer€from€theÏPublic€Defenderððs€Office€represented€the€mother.€€The€Vice€ChairÏcommented€that€it€is€a€major€problem€if€the€attorneys€whoÏrepresent€the€child€have€too€many€cases.€€Mr.€¢Mirviss£€pointed€outÏthat€at€the€time€of€the€case€this€was€a€problem.€€Mr.€Dean€askedÏif€the€situation€has€improved,€and€Mr.€¢Mirviss£€answered€that€theÏcaseloads€are€down.€€Thirteen€thousand€children€are€in€stateÏcustody€today.€€There€is€a€wide€spectrum€of€attorneys€„„€some€areÏdiligent€and€some€are€not.€€Minimal€qualification€requirementsÏare€needed.€€Judge€Vaughan€commented€that€it€bothers€him€that€outÏof€13,000€cases,€there€are€no€headlines€about€the€cases€which€areÏresolved€adequately.€€He€added€that€he€is€not€opposed€to€theÏGuidelines€to€avoid€the€tragic€cases.Ìà  àMr.€Brault€explained€that€the€tragic€cases€do€not€constantlyÏhappen,€but€the€clients€are€children€who€cannot€protectÏthemselves.€€The€history€of€the€Guidelines€is€that€the€HonorableÏRobert€M.€Bell,€Chief€Judge€of€the€Court€of€Appeals,€wrote€aÏletter€to€Chief€Judge€Joseph€F.€Murphy,€Jr.,€Chair€of€the€RulesÏCommittee,€explaining€the€background€of€the€Foster€Care€CourtÏImprovement€Implementation€Committee,€which€Chief€Judge€Bell€hadÏset€up€to€implement€the€recommendations€of€the€Foster€Care€CourtÏImprovement€Project€Advisory€Committee.€€A€copy€of€the€letter€isÏin€the€meeting€materials.€€œRecently,›€a€meeting€was€held€which€Mr.ÏBrault€and€Mr.€Johnson,€Chair€of€the€Juvenile€Subcommittee,Ïattended.€€The€Rules€Committee€Chair,€the€Reporter,€JudgeÐ P- (4 ÐWoodward,€and€members€of€the€Implementation€Committee€also€wereÏpresent€at€the€meeting.€€The€purpose€of€the€meeting€was€toÏdetermine€what€Rules€changes€may€be€needed€to€implement€theÏrecommendations€of€the€Implementation€Committee,€which€they€hadÏtitled€ð ðUniform€Standards€of€Representation€for€AttorneysÐ ð @ ÐRepresenting€Children€in€CINA,€¢TPR£,€and€Related€Proceedings.ðð€Ð € Ð  ÐOne€suggestion€was€to€add€a€black€letter€rule€to€the€MarylandÏLawyersðð€Rules€of€Professional€Conduct.€€Mr.€Brault€said€that€heÏdisagreed€with€this€suggestion€because€of€the€problems€posed€byÏthe€cases€of€òòPost€v.€¢Bregman£óó,€349€Md.€142€(1998)€and€òòSonÐ À Тv.Margolius£óó,€349€Md.€441(1998).€€If€a€lawyer€violates€an€ethicalÐ P  Ðrule€and€that€rule€is€a€statement€of€public€policy,€the€violationÏcould€form€the€basis€for€civil€liability.€€The€AttorneysÏSubcommittee€asked€the€Implementation€Committee€to€reformulateÏthe€Standards€as€Guidelines.€€The€Subcommittee€decided€not€toÏamend€Rule€1.14€to€add€the€Guidelines€to€them,€but€to€simplyÏrefer€to€the€Guidelines€in€the€Rule.€€€€Ìà  àMr.€Brault€said€that€the€question€is€how€to€make€theÏGuidelines€visible€to€the€legal€community.€€The€commentary€of€theÏMaryland€Rules€of€Professional€Conduct€can€have€the€effect€ofÏbeing€a€rule.€€In€interpreting€the€commentary,€the€courts€andÏmembers€of€the€lawyer€disciplinary€system€who€enforce€the€RulesÏof€Professional€Conduct€look€to€the€comments€to€determine€whatÏthe€rule€is.€€The€Guidelines€can€be€placed€in€the€appendix€of€theÏrule€book,€so€that€they€are€available€to€attorneys,€without€beingÏa€rule.€€The€Honorable€David€B.€Mitchell,€of€the€Circuit€CourtÏfor€Baltimore€City,€had€written€a€letter€to€the€ReporterÐ P- (4 Ðexpressing€the€judgeððs€concerns€that€referring€to€the€GuidelinesÏin€a€comment€is€too€much€like€the€Guidelines€being€treated€as€aÏrule.€€(See€Appendix€3).€€Rule€1.14€deals€with€the€representationÏof€clients€under€a€disability.€€The€Guidelines€address€otherÏproblems€„„€the€attorney€who€is€appointed€to€represent€children,Ïnot€always,€but€not€uncommonly,€plays€the€role€of€judge€and€juryÏto€determine€what€should€be€done,€even€if€it€is€against€theÏchildððs€wishes.€€The€Guidelines€provide€that€the€attorney€shouldÏrepresent€the€child€as€the€attorney€represents€any€other€client,Ïadvocating€the€childððs€position€unless€there€is€good€reason€notÏto€do€so,€for€example,€if€the€attorney€determines€that€the€childÏis€incapable€of€forming€a€decision.€€The€Vice€Chair€commentedÏthat€Legal€Aid€attorneys€are€aware€of€this,€but€she€is€not€sureÏhow€many€other€attorneys€are.Ìà  àJudge€Kaplan€said€that€for€the€past€eight€months€he€has€beenÏhearing€CINA€and€¢TPR£€cases.€€The€attorneys€who€handle€the€casesÏare€both€government„appointed€and€private.€€Since€the€State€ofÏMaryland€began€contracting€with€private€attorneys,€very€fewÏattorneys€are€from€the€Legal€Aid€Bureau.€€The€attorneys€provideÏvarious€levels€of€representation.€€The€problem€is€that€there€areÏno€standards€as€to€how€to€practice€in€these€cases.€€Judge€KaplanÏremarked€that€he€finds€that€many€of€the€attorneys€are€doing€aÏgood€job.€€However,€standards€for€representation€are€needed.€ÏMaster€¢Koban£€commented€that€there€are€many€difficult€decisionsÏjudges€and€masters€have€to€make,€and€it€is€easy€to€make€aÏmistake.€€Many€of€the€childrenððs€attorneys€do€not€see€the€clientsÏbefore€the€hearing,€especially€if€the€child€is€under€three€yearsÐ P- (4 Ðof€age.€€However,€even€if€a€baby€cannot€speak,€a€visit€to€theÏchildððs€home€allows€a€check€on€the€environment.€€The€babies€inÏfoster€care€rely€on€the€Department€of€Social€Services€and€theÏchildððs€attorney€to€make€an€assessment€as€to€where€the€childrenÏbelong.€€The€Vice€Chair€asked€Master€¢Koban£€if€she€questionsÏattorneys€who€come€before€her€as€to€what€steps€they€have€taken€inÏrepresenting€the€child€and€if€she€orders€the€attorneys€to€takeÏfurther€actions€on€behalf€of€their€clients.€€Master€¢Koban£Ïanswered€these€questions€in€the€affirmative.€€She€referred€to€aÏcase€in€which€a€teenage€mother€had€a€baby€who€was€in€JohnsÏHopkins€Hospital.€€The€attorney€did€not€go€to€the€hospital€toÏfind€out€about€the€baby€who€had€some€medical€problems.€€TheÏattorney€took€no€position€in€the€case€and€obtained€no€records.€ÏJudge€Dryden€inquired€if€the€attorney€was€appointed€by€the€court,Ïand€Master€¢Koban£€replied€that€the€attorney€was€hired€pursuant€toÏa€contract€with€the€Department€of€Human€Resources€(¢DHR£).€€Ms.ÏJones€told€the€Committee€that€Ms.€¢Scates£€was€an€attorney€workingÏfor€¢DHR£.€€Ms.€¢Scates£€commented€that€the€¢DHR£€was€in€support€of€theÏstandards€for€representing€children.€€Attorneys€should€have€clearÏguidelines.€€The€¢DHR£€put€out€a€solicitation€in€1993€forÏcompetitive€bids€from€attorneys€to€represent€children€in€CINA,Ï¢TPR£,€and€related€cases.€€No€guidelines€existed€for€the€1993Ïprogram.€€The€next€solicitation€was€in€1997,€and€there€will€beÏone€on€July€1,€2000.€€Mr.€Sykes€asked€if€the€¢DHR£€monitors€theÏperformance€of€attorneys.€€Ms.€¢Scates£€replied€that€the€attorneysððÏperformance€has€been€monitored€since€January€of€1999,€includingÏsoliciting€comments€from€the€bench.€€¢DHR£€staff€members€make€siteÐ P- (4 Ðvisits.€€In€Baltimore€City,€there€are€bimonthly€meetings€withÏJudge€Martin€Welch,€of€the€Circuit€Court€for€Baltimore€City,€andÏproviders.€€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€asked€if€the€¢DHR£€can€terminate€a€contractÏwith€an€attorney.€€Ms.€¢Scates£€answered€that€a€contract€can€beÏterminated.€€The€Vice€Chair€then€inquired€if€a€contract€has€everÏbeen€terminated.€€Ms.€Skates€responded€that€she€is€not€familiarÏwith€the€past€history€of€these€contracts,€but€recently,€thereÏhave€been€no€terminations.€€Payments€to€attorneys€have€beenÏwithheld€when€the€attorney€is€not€cooperating.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€remarked€that€it€is€troubling€to€learn€aboutÏthe€problems€with€the€representation€of€children.€€There€may€be€aÏlack€of€resources€to€cure€the€problem,€but€the€Guidelines€are€atÏleast€a€step€in€the€right€direction.€€The€real€issue€is€the€oneÏraised€by€Judge€Mitchell€„„€how€can€better€representation€of€theÏchildren€be€accomplished?€€If€the€Guidelines€use€the€wordÐ  p Ðð ðshall,ðð€it€sounds€like€rules.€€The€reference€should€be€to€theÐ °  Ðsteps€that€an€attorney€should€take.€€The€Vice€Chair€expressed€herÏconcern€about€incorporating€the€Guidelines€into€Rule€1.14.ÏAnother€approach€could€be€to€attach€the€Guidelines€to€theÏcontract€under€which€the€attorney€provides€the€services€to€theÏchildren.Ìà  àMr.€Sykes€observed€that€even€though€the€Discovery€GuidelinesÏare€not€part€of€the€Rules,€the€¢Michie£€Company€printed€them€in€theÏrule€book,€and€gradually,€the€courts€began€citing€them.€€ThisÏprovides€some€precedent€for€the€publication€of€the€Guidelines€forÏattorneys€representing€children€in€CINA€cases.€€Mr.€BraultÐ P- (4 Ðexplained€that€there€had€been€too€many€discovery€disputes€amongÏthe€members€of€the€bar.€€The€Litigation€Section€of€the€MarylandÏState€Bar€Association€created€a€committee€to€draft€discoveryÏguidelines.€€The€guidelines€have€had€a€very€positive€effect€onÏthe€bar.€€They€were€not€meant€to€be€rules,€although€judges€doÏcite€the€guidelines€in€court.€€Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€reiterated€that€the€Guidelines€for€AttorneysÏRepresenting€Children€can€go€into€an€appendix.€€Mr.€BraultÏcommented€that€Chief€Judge€Bell€is€interested€in€some€rulesÏaction€and€would€like€the€Guidelines€to€go€into€the€Rules€ofÏProcedure€somewhere.€€Ìà  àMs.€Jones€told€the€Committee€that€she€had€been€working€forÏthe€past€two€years€on€developing€the€standards€for€representationÏof€children€in€CINA,€¢TPR£,€and€adoption€proceedings.€€The€problemsÏare€national.€€Her€research€showed€that€there€are€no€rules€orÏstatutes€pertaining€to€this.€€Ìà  àMs.€¢Klain£€remarked€that€she€is€a€representative€of€theÏAmerican€Bar€Association€(ððABAðð),€which€has€specific€standardsÐ @" Ðfor€attorneys€representing€children€in€these€proceedings.€€InÏdeveloping€the€standards€in€Maryland,€the€people€who€drafted€themÏconsidered€the€ABA€standards.€€At€the€national€level,€there€areÏmajor€issues€to€tackle.€€Grants€to€the€highest€court€in€theÏvarious€states€are€available€to€improve€the€handling€of€childÏabuse€and€negñyñlñyññwñigenceñwññxñlectñxñ€cases.Ìà  àJudge€Vaughan€noted€that€some€of€the€problems€may€stem€fromÏthe€State€hiring€the€lowest€bidder€for€providing€legal€services.€ÏHe€said€that€there€seem€to€be€several€options€pertaining€to€theÐ P- (4 ÐGuidelines.€€One€is€to€do€nothing.€€The€second€is€to€adopt€theÏGuidelines€as€rules.€€Another€is€to€have€¢Michie£€print€them€as€anÏappendix€only.€€Judge€Vaughan€expressed€his€agreement€with€theÏSubcommitteeððs€recommendation.€€The€Vice€Chair€commented€that€itÏis€important€for€judges€to€be€made€aware€of€the€Guidelines.€€IfÏthey€are€not€referred€to€in€the€Rules,€judges€will€be€unaware€ofÏthem.€€Ìà  àMr.€Sykes€commented€that€from€the€practitionerððs€point€ofÏview,€an€attorney€who€sees€these€Guidelines€does€not€know€if€heÏor€she€is€liable€for€malpractice€if€there€is€non„compliance.€€IfÏthey€are€mandatory,€can€an€attorney€ignore€them?€€The€practicingÏattorney€needs€to€have€clearer€lines€drawn.€€If€a€violation€is€aÏbasis€for€malpractice,€this€needs€to€be€stated.€€If€theÏGuidelines€are€advisory€only,€this€should€be€expressed.€€Mr.ÏBrault€explained€that€the€intention€is€that€the€Guidelines€areÏnot€mandatory.€€Mr.€Sykes€pointed€out€there€could€be€civilÏliabilities.€€Mr.€Brault€responded€that€there€are€civilÏliabilities.€€Whenever€attorneys€do€not€follow€applicableÏstandards€of€practice,€they€can€be€held€responsible.€€Mr.€SykesÏpointed€out€that€the€name€ð ðguidelinesðð€means€they€are€notÐ `"°& Ðmandatory.Ìà  àThe€Vice€Chair€noted€that€the€Subcommittee€was€of€theÏopinion€that€non„compliance€with€the€Guidelines€should€never€be€aÏmatter€for€the€Attorney€Grievance€Commission.€€Mr.€BraultÏremarked€that€the€Guidelines€could€go€under€Rule€1.1,€Competence.ÏTwo€major€areas€of€malpractice€are€getting€into€a€case€aboutÏwhich€an€attorney€knows€nothing€and€getting€into€a€case€where€theÐ P- (4 Ðattorney€knows€the€law,€but€does€nothing.€€Ìà  àMs.€¢Scates£€commented€that€it€may€be€difficult€to€attach€theÏGuidelines€to€the€attorneysðð€contracts€for€providing€servicesÏbecause€at€least€500€court„appointed€attorneys€are€not€underÏcontract.€€Mr.€Sykes€suggested€that€there€could€be€anÏadministrative€order€endorsing€the€Guidelines€issued€by€the€CourtÏof€Appeals.€€This€would€be€in€lieu€of€putting€them€in€the€Rules.€ÏMr.€Brault€expressed€the€concern€that€no€one€would€be€aware€of€anÏadministrative€order.€€Judge€Johnson€observed€that€the€GuidelinesÏare€important€enough€that€they€should€not€be€overlooked.Ìà  àJudge€Kaplan€suggested€that€the€title€of€the€Guidelines€beÏclarified.€€He€questioned€whether€the€word€ð ðrecommendedðð€shouldÐ à0 Ðbe€a€modifier€of€the€word€ð ðguidelines.ðð€€They€could€be€titledÐ pÀ Ðð ðRecommended€Advisory€Guidelines....ðð.€€Mr.€Bowen€questionedÐ P Ðwhether€the€word€ð ðuniformðð€should€remain€in€the€title.€€Ms.€JonesÐ à Ðnoted€that€at€the€Subcommittee€meeting,€Mr.€Titus€had€suggestedÏthat€the€word€ð ðshallñzñ,ñzñððñ|ññ{ñ,ñ{ññ|ñ€should€be€taken€out€of€the€Guidelines.€Ð °  ÐHowever,€Ms.€Jones€and€Ms.€Brault€felt€that€a€few€phrasesÏrequired€the€word€ð ðshallñ}ñ,ñ}ñðð€because€that€guideline€expressed€aÐ Ð $ Ðbasic€minimum.€€The€Vice€Chair€said€that€the€word€ð ðshallðð€isÐ `"°& Ðinconsistent€with€being€a€guideline.€Ìà  àJudge€Vaughan€pointed€out€that€Guidelines€are€nothing€moreÏthan€a€description€of€what€a€good€attorney€does.€€It€is€sad€thatÏthey€are€necessary,€but€it€is€important€that€they€be€distributed.€ÏMaster€¢Koban£€pointed€out€the€problem€of€the€infant€client€or€theÏmentally€retarded€client€who€cannot€file€a€complaint€against€theÏattorney.€€ñ~ñAfter€many€years,€the€severity€of€the€problemsÐ P- (4 Ðincreases.€€ñ~ñThe€population€is€a€very€vulnerable€one.€€With€theÐ P- (4 Ðproper€representation,€there€is€a€chance€that€some€of€theÏchildren€may€grow€up€to€be€successful€adults.€€For€the€highestÏprofile€on€the€Guidelines,€they€should€be€attached€to€the€Rules.€€ÏThe€Vice€Chair€inquired€as€to€whether€the€Guidelines€are€takenÏdirectly€from€the€parallel€language€of€the€ABA,€and€Ms.€¢Klain£Ïanswered€that€they€are€not.€€€Ìà  àJudge€Woodward€explained€that€the€Guidelines€were€developedÏfrom€an€assessment€of€how€the€courts€have€handled€juvenile€fosterÏcare€cases€in€Maryland.€€Over€100€attorneys€were€surveyed.€€CourtÏpersonnel€were€also€surveyed,€and€researchers€made€site€visits€toÏ12€jurisdictions.€€A€review€of€the€information€gathered€showedÏthat€no€standards€of€practice€existed.€€The€judges€were€not€clearÏas€to€how€to€handle€the€cases€and€what€the€role€of€the€childððsÏattorney€should€be.€€There€was€a€difference€in€the€quality€of€theÏcases.€€The€Guidelines€should€have€some€impact€if€they€have€theÏofficial€imprimatur€of€the€Court€of€Appeals.€€They€should€beÏreferenced€in€the€Rules€and€published€in€the€appendix.€Ìà  àMr.€Hochberg€pointed€out€that€the€new€language€in€theÏComment€to€Rule€1.14€gives€CINA€and€¢TPR£€proceedings€as€examples,Ïbut€the€Comment€does€not€apply€only€to€CINA€and€¢TPR£€proceedings.€€ÏThe€first€paragraph€of€the€Guidelines€limitññsññ€them€to€applying€toÏchildren€in€abuse€and€neglect€cases€only.€€Is€the€Rule€broaderÏthan€that?€€The€Vice€Chair€replied€that€Rule€1.14€applies€to€anyÏcase€involving€the€representation€of€a€disabled€person.€€Ms.ÏBrault€noted€that€the€Guidelines€are€limited€in€scope€to€theÏfoster€care€grant.€€Mr.€Bowen€commented€that€the€title€of€theÏGuidelines€does€not€appear€in€the€Comment,€so€that€there€is€noÐ P- (4 Ðindication€as€to€whether€the€Guidelines€are€uniform.€€HeÏexpressed€the€view€that€the€title€does€not€state€the€issueÏclearly.€€The€Vice€Chair€observed€that€the€Style€Subcommittee€canÏhandle€this.€€The€question€is€if€the€concept€is€satisfactory.€ÏSpecific€points€in€the€Guidelines€can€be€considered€later.€€Ìà  àThe€Reporter€said€that€she€received€a€telephone€call€fromÏMaster€James€Casey,€Circuit€Court€for€Baltimore€City,€who€pointedÏout€that€there€is€another€side€to€the€Comment€„„€the€attorneyÏshould€advocate€a€position€when€the€client€does€not€haveÏconsidered€judgment.€€Mr.€Dean€remarked€that€the€Guidelines€stateÏthis€point,€but€the€Reporter€noted€that€this€point€is€not€made€inÏthe€Comment.€€Judge€Kaplan€suggested€that€this€should€be€in€theÏComment.€€The€Vice€Chair€suggested€that€the€new€language€be:€€ð ðifÐ pÀ Ðthe€client€does€not€have€considered€judgment,€then€the€attorneyÏshould€advocate€the€position€which€he€or€she€believes€is€in€theÏbest€interest€of€the€child.ðð€€Ð  p Ðà  àMr.€Brault€suggested€that€each€of€the€Guidelines€be€reviewedÏby€the€Subcommittee.€€The€Vice€Chair€stated€that€since€theÏCommittee€approved€the€concept€of€the€amendment€to€Rule€1.14€andÏpublication€of€the€Guidelines,€they€will€go€back€to€theÏSubcommittee€for€further€review€ñ€ñof€their€substance€ñ€ñand€then€beÏconsidered€again€by€the€full€Committee.Ì€à0  àThe€Vice€Chair€adjourned€the€meeting.Ð'`",(#(# Ð