Maryland Bar Association Promotes Increased Judicial Security

E-Discovery LLC - Maryland Bar Association Promotes Increased Judicial Security By Michael Berman
Image: Holley Robinson, EDRM.

[EDRM Editor’s Note: The opinions and positions are those of Michael Berman.]

It was great to read MSBA Leads the Way in Advocating for Judicial and Attorney Security | Maryland State Bar Association (July 30, 2024), written by the MSBA President, Raphael J. Santini.

He wrote: “In the wake of Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson’s tragic murder in October 2023, the Maryland State Bar Association has taken a proactive stance in championing judicial security. Recognizing the crucial importance of this issue to the entire legal profession, MSBA’s Board of Governors voted to prioritize judicial security and the association swiftly published an advocacy statement emphasizing the need to enhance judicial security and preserve the rule of law.”

In the wake of Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson’s tragic murder in October 2023, the Maryland State Bar Association has taken a proactive stance in championing judicial security.

Raphael J. Santini, MSBA President, in MSBA Leads the Way in Advocating for Judicial and Attorney Security | Maryland State Bar Association (July 30, 2024).

The MSBA supported Senate Bill 575 (SB 575), also known as the Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson Judicial Security Act which is now law.  President Santini also reports that the MSBA “played a crucial role in mobilizing its members to understand the significance of the legislation and the newly formed Maryland Judicial Security Task Force.” 

President Santini wrote that: “To keep its members informed and engaged, MSBA continues to prioritize judicial security in its agenda.”

Following the lead of the Hon. Paul W. Grimm (ret.), I have advocated for increased security for the judiciary.  See Judge Paul Grimm: The Judiciary is Under Attack.  Lawyers Need to Defend It (Oct. 24, 2023), and I Hear Crickets From the American Bar Association About Threats Against Colorado Justices (Jan. 7, 2024). 

In that blog, I pointed out that the Maryland State Bar Association, the voice of Maryland’s legal profession, and the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, supported legislation protecting judges’ home addresses.  And, after a Maryland Judge was murdered, the Maryland State Bar Association was not silent.  I pointed out that R. Santini (president-elect, MSBA), and E. Gollogy (president, Md. Chapter, Federal Bar Association), wrote that Judges must be kept safe (baltimoresun.com)(Dec. 19, 2023). 

When the ABA spoke out, I noted that in American Bar Association Statement on Threats Against the Judiciary (Apr. 8, 2024).

In his recent article, MSBA President Santini concluded: “While the passage of the Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson Judicial Security Act marks a significant milestone, MSBA recognizes that there is more work to be done. MSBA’s ongoing commitment to judicial security is exemplified by its representation on the Judicial Security Task Force.”  [emphasis added].

Suggestions or ideas can be sent to the Judicial Security Task Force at advocacy@msba.org.

Author

  • Miichael Berman's headshot

    Mike is the owner of E-Discovery, LLC, and of counsel at Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC, in Baltimore. He concentrates on commercial litigation and offers mediation services. He was the primary editor of Electronically Stored Information in Maryland Courts (Md. State Bar Ass’n. 2020), and he co-edited M. Berman, C. Barton, and P. Grimm, eds., Managing E-Discovery and ESI: From Pre-Litigation Through Trial (ABA 2011), and J. Baron, R. Losey, and M. Berman, eds., Perspectives on Predictive Coding (ABA 2016). Mike has litigated a number of cases in the trial and appellate courts in Maryland. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law where he co-teaches a three-credit discovery workshop that focuses on e-discovery. He has lectured at the Maryland Judicial College and he chaired the Bar committee that drafted the proposed ESI Principles for the District of Maryland. He is a past: co-chair of the Federal District Court Committee of the Maryland State and Federal Bar Associations; chair of the Litigation Section Council, Maryland State Bar Association; and, co-chair of the American Bar Association Litigation Section Book Publishing Board. He graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law and is also an Army veteran. He is admitted to the Maryland bar. The opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC.

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