FAMILY LAW
Spring 2004
Courtroom Observation Assignment
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Goals of Assignment: |
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Assignment: | A. Court Observation
You are responsible to observe proceedings in a Family Division or related court for a 2-1/2 to 3 hour session. Because I have made prior arrangements for these observations in both the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Family Divisions of the Circuit Courts, either of these courts would be good choices. Information concerning scheduling, location, and other details for these courts and others is included in this memo. You may, however, observe proceedings in any court hearing family law matters in Maryland. Whatever court you choose, please dress appropriately for court; introduce yourself to the judge or master, if possible; and, of course, treat all court personnel with courtesy and respect. |
B. Written Narrative
After your observation, prepare a 2 to 4 page, typed, double-spaced description and analysis of what you observed. The narrative should include: 1. Date and time of your observation; name of court and judge you observed. 2. Type of hearing(s) or class observed: divorce, child support, custody, contempt, etc.; pendente lite vs. merits; domestic violence (ex parte vs. protective order). 3. Describe the content of the hearing(s) or class: the evidence and arguments presented at the hearing; whether the parties were represented by counsel or appeared pro se. 4. Comment on the performance of the attorneys (if any) and judge and describe the judge's decision(s). Also, please provide your reflections/analysis of the observation, including commentary about how the observation relates to class assignments and discussions. |
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C. Deadlines 1. Although I have eliminated two class sessions to compensate time spent for courtroom observation, you may schedule your observation any time between now and mid-April. Do not wait until the last week to schedule your courtroom observation -- it may take more than one trip to court to obtain the information required for your written narrative. Also, I have advised the Baltimore City and County Circuit Courts that students will be in the courthouses on a staggered basis over the course of the semester. 2. Your written narrative is due by the beginning of class on Thursday, April 15, 2004. Please feel free to turn it in earlier, and keep a copy of your narrative for use in class discussion. |
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Options for Court Observation: | |
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Baltimore City
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1. Family Division of the Circuit Court The Judge in Charge of the Family Division is Judge Audrey J.S. Carrion, Courtroom F-3 (410-396-5130). Domestic cases in the Family Division of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City are heard by both masters and judges. There presently are three domestic masters: Master Christopher L. Panos, Room 327, Courthouse East, Master Robert Bloom, Room 105, Courthouse East, Master Theresa Funari, Room 103, Courthouse East, The masters hear primarily pendente lite (temporary) issues in open
court, but they also hold settlement/scheduling conferences in chambers.
Masters Panos, Funari, and Bloom are permanently assigned to domestic
matters. Judge Audrey J.S. Carrion, Courthouse East, 410-396-5130 Judge Joseph P. McCurdy, Courthouse East, 410-396-5056 (until March
6th) Judge David W. Young, Courthouse East, 410-396-5076 (after March 6th) Judge Sylvester Cox, Courthouse East, 410-396-5071 (after January 22nd) * Courthouse East is located at 111 North Calvert Street, the old post
office building. The masters and judges receive their scheduling orders a week in advance
of hearings/trials. In order to observe a family law case, you should
call the judge's/master's chambers a maximum of one week in advance
to see what is on the docket for a specific day and to ascertain where
the judge will be hearing cases that day. Ask to speak to the judge's
or master's law clerk. It is a good idea to recheck the morning you
intend to observe to determine whether a case has been postponed, rescheduled,
cancelled, etc. |
Baltimore City
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2. District Court The District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City - Civil Division is located at the corner of Fayette and Gay Streets. This court hears ex parte and protective order hearings for domestic violence. Although the Circuit Court has concurrent jurisdiction over protective orders, the District Court in Baltimore City still hears most of these cases. As you walk through the main entrance of the District Court Courthouse, dockets for each courtroom are posted in a case immediately to your left. The sheets indicate which judge is assigned to the Domestic Violence docket for that day. The clerk's office is through the glass door to your right. Usually, one courtroom will be designated for domestic violence cases. If you are unsure or have questions, however, please check with a court clerk. |
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Baltimore County
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The Circuit Court for Baltimore County is located at 401 Bosley Avenue
in Towson. The Judge in Charge of the Family Division is Judge John
Grason Turnbull, II. Domestic cases in the Family Division of the Circuit
Court for Baltimore County are heard by both masters and judges. There presently are four domestic masters: Master C. Theresa Beck, 410-887-8611 Additional family matters are heard by: Richard J. Gilbert, Juvenile and Domestic, 410-887-5564; and Paul J. Hanley, Juvenile and Domestic, 410-887-5564. Like the masters in the Family Division of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, the masters hear primarily pendente lite (temporary) issues in open court, but they also hold settlement/scheduling conferences in chambers. All hearings are held in Hearing Rooms A, B, C and in Courtroom 7 on the 3rd Floor. The best days to observe a Master hearing are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Additionally, the morning you arrive at the Courthouse, you should always check the docket that is available at the first floor Information Desk for further information regarding hearings/trials being heard that day. You may also inquire at the Information Desk as to the location of the particular courtroom where you intend to observe. The Circuit Court judges presently assigned to the Family Division are: Primary Assignments (Effective until October 1, 2004): Judge Patrick Cavanaugh, Courtroom 4 (410) 887-6507 Backup Assignments (Effective until October 1, 2004): Judge Dana Mark Levitz, Courtroom 14 (410) 887-2630 The masters and judges receive their scheduling orders in advance of hearings/trials. In order to observe a family law case, call the judge's/master's chambers to see what is on the docket for a specific day or you can check the docket on the web page for the Baltimore County Circuit Court: www.co.ba.md.us. While the masters do not have law clerks, the judges do; thus, ask to speak to the judge's law clerk. It is a good idea to re-check the morning you intend to observe to determine whether a case has been postponed, rescheduled, canceled, settled, etc. If you are unable to speak to someone in the judge's/master's chambers, you may also call Central Assignment at 410-887-3497 in the morning to inquire about that day's family docket. If you experience difficulty arranging an observation, you may contact Richard Abbott, Differentiated Case Management Coordinator, at 410-887-3233. |
Court-Sponsored Parent Education Seminar
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Co-Parent Education Seminars (COPE) (for divorcing parents) or Shared Parent Education Seminars (SHAPE) (for never married parents) are offered to parties involved in custody, visitation and child support cases. These parties are ordered to attend these seminars designed to minimize disruptive effects of separation and divorce on children. Md. Rules 9-204 (Vol. 2, 2001). See also, MD. CODE ANN., Fam Law § 7-103.2 (Murphy Supp. at 196). The 5 hour classes are held at the Sheppard Pratt Hospital Conference Center at 6601 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21285 and are offered on either Fridays or Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you are interested in pursing this option, you must schedule attendance in advance with T. Sue German, Family Division Care Coordinator or her Assistant, Laverda Green, Circuit Court for Baltimore City at 410-396-3648. Classes do not meet every week so I recommend that you call at least 2 weeks in advance to hear about the schedule of classes and to reserve your place as a guest. |
Court of Appeals, Court of Special Appeals
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Both of Maryland's appellate courts are in the Court of Appeals Building located at Rowe Boulevard and Taylor Avenue (361 Rowe Boulevard) in Annapolis. Check the Daily Record, Maryland Domestic Law Report, and The Family Law Monthly for information concerning the courts' schedules for family law arguments. Observing an appellate court argument will be meaningful only if you have had an opportunity in advance to review the briefs or some commentary on the case to be argued. In addition, the appellate court docket will not always include family law cases. For these reasons, if you are interested to observe an appellate court argument, please see me and I can assist you to select a date and obtain background materials for the case. |