COURT OF SPECIAL
APPEALS
Chief fudge:
RICHARD P. GILBERT, Sixth
Appellate Circuit Baltimore, 1987
Associate fudges:
CHARLES AWDRY THOMPSON, First
Appellate Circuit Cambridge, 1983
W. ALBERT MENCHINE, Second
Appellate Circuit Glen Arm, 1989
JOHN P. MOORE, Third
Appellate Circuit Rockville,1984
JERROLD V. POWERS, Fourth
Appellate Circuit Cheverly, 1987
JAMES C. MORTON, JR., Fifth
Appellate Circuit Davidsonville, 1983
SOLOMON Liss, Sixth
Appellate Circuit Baltimore, 1978
CHARLES E. MOYLAN, JR.,
At Large Baltimore, 1987
RITA C. DAVIDSON,
At Large Chevy Chase, 1989
THOMAS HUNTER LOWE,
At Large Wittman, 1989
DAVID T. MASON,
At Large Baltimore, 1991
RIDGELY P. MELVIN, JR.,
At Large Annapolis, 1991
JULIUS A. ROMANO, Clerk of the Court
HOWARD E. FRIEDMAN, Chief Deputy Clerk
THAYER A. LARRIMORE, Deputy Clerk
ANN C. SIMMONS, Deputy Clerk
Courts of Appeal Building,
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-3646
The creation of the Court of Special Ap-
peals was authorized by an amendment to
the Constitution which was ratified on No-
vember 8, 1966. The implementing legisla-
tion creating the Court was provided by
Chapters 11 and 12, Acts of 1966 (Const.
1867, Art. IV, sec. 14A; Courts Article,
sees. 1-402; (a) and (b), 1-403 (a)-(c)).
The Court was originally composed of
five judges, each of whom was elected from
a special appellate circuit. Its jurisdiction
was limited to hearing primarily criminal
appeals except where the death sentence
was imposed. |
By Chapter 99, Acts of 1970, the num-
ber of judges was increased from five to
nine. The special appellate judicial circuits
were abolished and the new law provided
that each judge should be elected from each
of the five Appellate Judicial Circuits and
two from the Sixth Appellate Judicial Cir-
cuit representing Baltimore City. By Chap-
ter 361, Acts of 1972, the number of judges
was increased from nine to ten. By Chapter
706, Acts of 1974, the number of judges
was increased to twelve with five judges
elected from the State At Large. Cases be-
fore the Court are to be heard by a panel
of not less than three judges. The terms
of the judges are for fifteen years and the
Governor designates one member of the
court as the Chief Judge.
The same act enlarged the jurisdiction
of the Court to encompass appeals in nu-
merous civil matters, such as negligence
cases arising out of motor vehicle accidents,
Workmen's Compensation cases, domestic
cases and paternity proceedings. Chapter
56, Acts of 1973 increased the jurisdiction
of the Court of Special Appeals to include
appeals taken in the following: any equity
case, declaratory judgments, zoning cases,
and cases from an orphans' court.
The Clerk of the Court of Special Ap-
peals is appointed by the Court. He main-
tains the docket, receives the records and
briefs of all appeals filed with the Court and
maintains official custody of the decisions
of the Court.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
OF THE COURTS
WILLIAM H. ADKINS 11, Slate Court
Administrator
ROBERT W. MCKEEVER, Deputy State
Court Administrator
ROBERT C. FRANKE, Assistant
Administrator, Reports and Records
JAMES F. LYNCH, Director, Judicial
Planning Services
FREDERICK A. FARRIS, Director, Judicial
Education Services
1. ALLEN HINES, Director, Judicial
Administrative Services |
