Maryland Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals, the highest court in the State of Maryland, was created by the Maryland Constitution of 1776. It origins go back to 1694 when royal governor Francis Nicholson first established Maryland's Court of Appeals. The Cour of Appeals is Maryland's “supreme court.” Technically, the name of the court is the Court of Appeals of Maryland but it is typcially referred to as the Maryland Court of Appeals.
The court hears cases almost exclusively by way of certiorari, a discretionary review process. In other words, it only considers cases that it believes have issues are worth addressing. If the court does not believe there is issue that needs to be given further consideration or analysis, it will deny certiorari and refuse to hear the case. A petition for writ of certiorari filed in the Maryland Court of Appeals seeking the court to overrule a decision of the Court of Special Appeals must to be filed no later than 15 days from the date of the order of the Court of Special Appeals.
Another important function of the Maryalnd Court of Appeals is that the cour may adopt rules of judicial administration, practice, and procedure that have the force of law. The most notable example of this is Maryland Rules which sets forth the rules of practice and procedure for Maryland state courts.
See Future of the Maryland Court of Appeals
See Interview with Maryland Court of Appeal Chief Judge Robert M. Bell
See Maryland Court of Special Appeals
See Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer Help Center
See Maryland Lawyer Blog
See Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog
See Analysis of Who May Fill Judge Raker's Court of Appeals Vacancy
