E-filing by MDEC becomes mandatory for appeals from all Maryland counties on July 1

By Steve Klepper (Twitter: @MDAppeal)

Yesterday, the Court of Appeals approved changes to the Maryland Rules that, as of July 1, 2020, will require all attorneys to file through the MDEC system in all appeals, including from circuit courts in the remaining non-MDEC counties (Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County).

A comment explains the effect of the amendments to Rule 20-102, which carve out the e-filing exception for appeals from counties where trial courts have not yet transitioned to MDEC:

Committee note: The intent of the 2020 amendments to this Rule is to expand MDEC to appeals and certain other proceedings in the Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals that emanate from non-MDEC subdivisions. That requires certain clarifications. First, unless they are registered users under Rule 20-104, self-represented litigants and other persons subject to Rule 20-106 (a)(4) may not file electronically. See Rule 20-106. They will continue to file their submissions to the appellate court in paper form, unless otherwise permitted by the Court. Second, unless otherwise permitted by the appellate court, trial courts in non-MDEC subdivisions shall continue to transmit the record in accordance with Rules 8-412 and 8-413 and not Rule 20-402.

If you’re an attorney not yet registered for MDEC, the time to do so is now. The Rules Order states that the changes “take effect and apply to all actions commenced on or after July 1, 2020 and, insofar as practicable, to all actions then pending.”