On May 20, 2010, Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law SB 248, increasing funding for civil legal services in Maryland.  The bill will increase the filing fee surcharge for civil cases, which will help fill the revenue gap from decreased IOLTA income.  In its Interim Report, the Maryland Access to Justice Commission recommended that the filing fee be increased to supplement funding for civil legal services. 

(photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Commission members shown above include Governor Martin O’Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Tracy Brown, Executive Director, Women's Law Center of Maryland, Delegate Kathleen Dumais, Wilhelm Joseph, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Bureau, Susan Erlichman, Executive Director of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and Sharon Goldsmith, Executive Director of the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland.  Executive Director of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission, Pamela Cardullo Ortiz, is also shown.

Additional information about the bill can be found at: http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/SB0248.htm

 

MD Access to Justice Commission - 2011D Commerce Park Dr - Annapolis, MD 21401 - 410-260-1258