<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-101" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Administrative Offices"> <level label="a"> <text>There is an Administrative Office of the Courts, headed by the State Court Administrator. The Administrator is appointed by and holds office during the pleasure of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland. The Administrator shall have the compensation provided in the State budget. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall have a seal in the form the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland approves. The courts of the State shall take judicial notice of the seal.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Subject to the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Administrator may appoint employees necessary to carry out his duties. The persons appointed shall have the compensation provided in the State budget.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Neither the Administrator nor any employee of the Administrative Office of the Courts may engage directly or indirectly in the practice of law.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The State Court Administrator, under the supervision and direction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland, shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Examine the state of the dockets of the courts and determine the need for assistance by any court;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Make recommendations to the Chief Justice relating to assignment of judges to courts in need of assistance and carry out the directions of the Chief Justice as to assignment of judges;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Collect and compile statistical and other data, make reports of the business transacted by the courts, and transmit this information to the Chief Justice in order that action may be taken in respect to it;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Prepare and submit budget estimates of State appropriations necessary for maintenance and operation of the judicial system and make recommendations in respect to it;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Draw any requisition for payment of State money appropriated for maintenance and operation of the judicial system;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Collect statistical and other data and make reports relating to expenditure of State and local public money for maintenance and operation of the judicial system and the offices connected to it;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>Obtain reports in accordance with law or rules of the Supreme Court of Maryland or the Chief Justice adopts on cases and other judicial business in which action is delayed beyond periods of time specified by law or rules of court, and report the information to the Chief Justice;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>Formulate and submit to the Chief Justice recommendations for improvement of the judicial system;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>Make and publish an annual report of the affairs of the Administrator’s Office;</text> </level> <level label="10"> <text>Design a citation form for citations to be issued under § 3–8A–33 of this article and citations to be issued to a minor under § 10–119 of the Criminal Law Article; and</text> </level> <level label="11"> <text>Perform other duties the Chief Justice assigns.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Administrative Office of the Courts shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Keep a current list of alcoholism education or treatment programs that the Maryland Department of Health approves for use under § 6–219(c) or § 6–220(e) of the Criminal Procedure Article; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Notify promptly the appropriate judges whenever the Maryland Department of Health approves a new alcoholism education or treatment program or withdraws approval for a program.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>Every judge, clerk of court, and any other State or local officer shall comply with any request approved by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland and made by the Administrator or any of his assistants for information and statistical data bearing on the state of the dockets of the courts, the business transacted by them, and the expenditure of public money for maintenance and operation of the judicial system.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-101.1" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Administrative Offices"> <level label="a"> <text>The State Court Administrator shall assess drug court programs in circuit courts, including juvenile courts, and the District Court to determine how to increase these programs in a manner sufficient to meet each county’s needs.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Administrative Office of the Courts request an appropriation of $2,000,000 of additional funding in the State budget for fiscal year 2019 for the purpose of awarding grants to expand the scope of drug court programs described under subsection (a) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The State Court Administrator shall disburse the grants authorized under paragraph (1) of this subsection based on the population of the county, to circuit courts, including juvenile courts, and the District Court.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-101.2" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Administrative Offices"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Artificial intelligence” has the meaning stated in § 3.5–801 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Office” means the Administrative Office of the Courts.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>“Program” means the Artificial Intelligence Evidence Clinic Pilot Program.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>There is an Artificial Intelligence Evidence Clinic Pilot Program in the Office.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The purpose of the Program is to provide expertise in artificial intelligence to the circuit courts and the District Court in the form of expert testimony on the authenticity of electronic evidence that a court determines may have been created or altered using artificial intelligence.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Program shall engage college and university students, recent graduates, and faculty and technology professionals dedicated to the research and advancement of artificial intelligence in order to develop expert witness resources for courts to use in cases implicating the use of artificial intelligence.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Program shall prioritize civil cases in which one or more parties do not have legal representation or reasonable access to expert testimony.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>In administering the Program, the Office shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Develop a grant application for the Program; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Award grants to eligible institutions of higher education.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>For fiscal years 2027 and 2028, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $250,000 to the Program.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Not more than 20% of the money appropriated to the Program may be used for administrative expenses.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The terms of an agreement between the Office and a grantee may include a clause that requires the Office to hold harmless the grantee against any claim alleging liability or damages relating to the provision of expertise in artificial intelligence as part of the Program, except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct, gross negligence, or intentionally tortious conduct.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-102" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Administrative Offices"> <level label="a"> <text>In each county of the seventh judicial circuit, there may be a court administrator. The court administrator shall be appointed by the county administrative judge after consultation with the circuit administrative judge and shall hold office at the pleasure of the county administrative judge. The court administrator shall devote time and attention to the tasks, duties, and responsibilities that the county administrative judge prescribes.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The court administrator, with the approval of the county administrative judge, shall appoint employees necessary to enable the administrator to perform the duties assigned to the position. Each county government shall provide compensation for the employees, together with expenses for the proper performance of assigned duties of the court administrator and employees appointed under this section.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The court administrator may not engage directly or indirectly in the practice of law.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-201" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Reporter"> <text>There is a position of State Reporter. The justices of the Supreme Court of Maryland shall appoint the State Reporter for a term of four years unless the justices remove him sooner. He is eligible for reappointment.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-202" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Reporter"> <text>The State Reporter shall have the salary provided in the State budget.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-203" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Reporter"> <level label="a"> <text>The State Reporter, under the supervision of the Supreme Court of Maryland, shall prepare for publication reports of cases decided in the Supreme Court of Maryland and in the Appellate Court of Maryland and designated for publication by the respective courts.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The clerk of each appellate court shall deliver to the Reporter accurate copies of the opinions designated for publication by the clerk’s court.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The opinion in each case shall be published within six months of the decision in the case.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Reporter, in the usual manner of authors, shall superintend the proofreading, correction, and publication of the reports.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Reporter shall have the sum for clerical assistance provided in the State budget.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-204" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Reporter"> <level label="a"> <text>The State Reporter, under the direction and supervision of the Supreme Court of Maryland, shall let the necessary contracts for publishing the Maryland Reports, containing opinions of the Supreme Court of Maryland, and the Maryland Appellate Reports, containing opinions of the Appellate Court of Maryland. The contracts may be awarded on the terms and conditions the State Reporter deems necessary.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The publisher shall deliver to the State Reporter copies of the Maryland Reports and Maryland Appellate Reports, including advance reports, in the number and with the binding specified in the contracts.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The State Reporter shall have the Maryland Reports and Maryland Appellate Reports distributed as appropriate and may deliver any excess copies to the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-301" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Standing Committee on Rules"> <text>To aid in the exercise of its rulemaking powers, the Supreme Court of Maryland may appoint a standing committee of lawyers, judges, and other persons competent in judicial practice, procedure or administration. A committee member shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses incurred on committee business.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-302" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Standing Committee on Rules"> <text>The Supreme Court of Maryland may employ necessary assistants for the committee and fix their salaries.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-303" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Standing Committee on Rules"> <text>The State Court Administrator shall pay the assistants’ salaries as well as the traveling and other expenses of the committee, including printing and other costs from the appropriate budget allocation.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-401" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Commission on Judicial Disabilities"> <text>The Commission on Judicial Disabilities established pursuant to Article IV, § 4A of the Maryland Constitution, may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena any witness, compel his attendance, take evidence and require the production of any book, paper, correspondence, memorandum, contract, agreement, other record, or tangible thing which the Commission finds relevant or material to an inquiry or proceeding before it. An oath or affirmation may be administered, and a subpoena issued by, any member of the Commission.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-402" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Commission on Judicial Disabilities"> <text>In case of contumacy by any person, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person by the Commission, the Commission may invoke the aid of the circuit court for the county where the person resides or carries on business or is found. The court may issue an order requiring the person to appear before the Commission, and there to produce records, if so ordered. Failure to obey an order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt. Process in any case may be served wherever the person is found.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-403" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Commission on Judicial Disabilities"> <text>The Commission may grant to any person immunity from prosecution, or from any penalty or forfeiture, for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which that person testifies or produces evidence, documentary or otherwise.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-501" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Thurgood Marshall State Law Library"> <text>The Thurgood Marshall State Law Library shall be part of the Judiciary Department and shall operate under the supervision of a library committee to be appointed as provided in this subtitle.</text> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-502" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Thurgood Marshall State Law Library"> <level label="a"> <text>The library committee consists of three or more persons appointed to serve without compensation by a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court of Maryland.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Vacancies in the library committee shall be filled by a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court of Maryland.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-503" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Thurgood Marshall State Law Library"> <text>The library committee may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Appoint a Director to be compensated as provided in the State budget;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Make rules and regulations for the conduct and operation of the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Direct the Director to purchase from time to time books, maps, and periodicals for the use of the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-504" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Thurgood Marshall State Law Library"> <text>The Director of the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Appoint employees, with the approval of the library committee, to assist in the performance of the duties of the Director. Employees shall be compensated as provided in the budget;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Not allow any book, map, or documents to be removed from the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, except by the executive and legislative departments, other State agencies located in Annapolis, members of the General Assembly, and justices of the Supreme Court of Maryland and Appellate Court of Maryland, or on interlibrary loan to other libraries;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Accept excess copies of the Maryland Reports and Maryland Appellate Reports from the State Reporter;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>With the approval of the library committee, sell or exchange, from time to time, books from the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, including the Maryland Reports, Maryland Appellate Reports, codes, maps, and periodicals. The proceeds of the sales, after deducting the expenses, shall be paid over to the State Treasurer within 30 days after receipt. However, a book, map, or periodical may not be sold if its sale would break a set;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Report in writing to the library committee as often as required by the committee upon the operations of the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Perform other duties assigned by law to the Director.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-601" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Administrator” means the State Court Administrator.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Fund” means the Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Recordable instrument” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>A deed, as defined in § 1–101 of the Real Property Article; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Any other instrument affecting property that may be recorded under § 3–102 of the Real Property Article.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-602" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>There is a Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>There is an oversight committee composed of one representative from each of the following:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The Administrative Office of the Courts;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Maryland State Archives;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>The Circuit Court Clerks’ Association;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>The Maryland Land Title Association; and</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>The Maryland State Bar Association.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Fund shall be managed and supervised by the State Court Administrator, with advice from the oversight committee.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The State Treasurer shall hold, and the State Comptroller shall account for, the Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Fund shall be invested and reinvested in the same manner as other State funds.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Investment earnings of the Fund shall be paid into the Fund.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-603" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>The Fund consists of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Surcharges collected under §§ 7–102(b), 7–202(e), and 7–301(c)(4) of this article and § 13–604 of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Revenues from copies made on equipment bought through the Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Fund is a nonlapsing revolving fund which is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Fund shall be used to pay:</text> <level label="1"> <text>The operating expenses of the land records offices of the clerks of the circuit courts and to repair, replace, improve, modernize, and update office equipment and equipment related services in the land records office of the clerk of the circuit court for each county, as the Administrator considers appropriate, with advice from the oversight committee; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For major information technology development projects of the Judiciary Department, as the Administrator considers appropriate.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Expenditures under this section shall only be made pursuant to an appropriation approved by the General Assembly in the annual State budget prior to the expenditure or obligation of funds.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Fund shall be subject to an audit by the Office of Legislative Audits as provided for in § 2–1220 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>Disbursements from the Fund shall supplement and may not be a substitute for any funds designated in the State budget for office equipment and services in the land records office of the clerk of the circuit court for each county.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-604" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Administrator shall establish a surcharge of $20 for each type of recordable instrument to be recorded among the land records and the financing statement records.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For recordable instruments executed on or after July 1, 2011, the surcharge established under this subsection shall be $40 for each type of recordable instrument to be recorded among the land records and the financing statement records.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The surcharge shall be collected by the office of the clerk of the circuit court for each county.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The surcharge may not be charged:</text> <level label="1"> <text>To an entity that is exempt from the payment of fees under § 3–603 of the Real Property Article;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For the recordation of a restrictive covenant modification executed under § 3–112 of the Real Property Article; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>For the recordation of an amendment to the common area deeds or other declarations of a homeowners association that deletes a recorded covenant or restriction that restricts ownership based on race, religious belief, or national origin in accordance with § 11B–113.3 of the Real Property Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Receipts from the surcharge shall be placed in the Fund and used by the Administrator for the purposes of the Fund.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-605" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund"> <text>The State Treasurer shall report to the Administrator annually:</text> <level label="1"> <text>The status of the money invested under this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The interest received from investments for the Fund during the period covered by the report.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="13-606" title_number="13" title_name="Court Supporting Agencies" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund"> <text>The Administrator shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.</text> </section>