1998                                         EXECUTIVE ORDERS

WHEREAS, I contacted the sponsor of Senate Bill 873 who concurred with the
desirability of promulgating an Executive Order creating a Commission on
Judicial Reform with broader representation than provided for in Senate Bill
873; and

WHEREAS, I vetoed Senate Bill 873 since the purpose of the bill could be put
into effect by an Executive Order.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARVIN MANDEL, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF MARYLAND, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME
BY ARTICLE II, SECTION 24, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
MARYLAND, HEREBY PROMULGATE THE FOLLOWING ORDER
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

1.   There is created a Commission on Judicial Reform.

2.   The Commission shall be composed of nine members, two of whom shall be
members of the Maryland Senate, appointed by the President; two of whom shall
be members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker; two of whom
shall be members of the State Judiciary, appointed by the Chief Judge of the
Court of Appeals of Maryland; and three of whom shall be appointed by the
Governor.

3.       The members of the Commission shall elect a Chairman and a
Vice-Chairman from its membership. Five members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum. The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman or at
the call of the majority of the members thereof. The members of the Commission
shall receive no compensation but may receive such expenses as provided annually
in the budget.

4.       The Commission shall conduct a study of the Judicial Branch of
Government and its operations with the purpose of expediting justice and
increasing efficiency. The study shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a)   Proper compensation of the Judiciary, including collateral benefits, to
attract the highest qualified individuals;

(b)   Selection of Judges, including the possibility of the application of the
"Missouri" plan in Maryland as well as the possibility of the application of other
plans for judicial selection;

(c)  The role of all court related offices under the Code or Constitution and
the possibility of consolidation under the Judicial Branch;

(d)  Problems of the Judicial budget and the monetary needs to insure proper
administration of justice;

(e)  All aspects concerning the delay between the initiation of a court action
and trial, including the use and application of jury trials in this State;

(f) The procedure of arrest, indictment or information in criminal cases;

(g)  The civil procedure now in existence and measures which may be taken to
simplify procedures;

(h) The seeking of cooperation of all branches of government and educational
institutions of this State to study and make recommendations to increase the
efficiency of the Judicial Branch of Government and to promote justice; and