than 122,000 children and youth across the country are in foster care waiting for a forever family. In addition to getting the adoption cases procedurally ready for finalization, the National Adoption Day committee met weekly to make this a truly special event and their efforts included securing keynote speakers, obtaining donations for commemorative gifts, and working with technical services to plan a glitch-free, entertaining presentation for the adults and children in attendance. • Montgomery County is the latest jurisdiction, and among the largest to date, to implement the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) case management system, which modernizes court processes and makes case filing more convenient for attorneys and litigants. On October 25, with the support of JIS, electronic filing became mandatory for attorneys representing clients in civil and criminal cases in the District Court in Montgomery County and in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County , as well as for any appellate filings that originate in Montgomery County. Electronic filing remains optional for self-represented litigants.
individuals battling addiction, many with extensive criminal histories, have graduated from the program. There are currently 64 participants, and it is estimated that 50-60% of them will graduate. • On Thursday, July 15, 2021, the Maryland Judiciary’s Equal Justice Committee, through its Community Outreach Subcommittee, hosted its first community forum, which was the virtual forum for Montgomery County on the topic of juvenile justice. • On May 19, Montgomery County Adult Drug Court celebrated recovery with its 30th graduation ceremony. Seven graduates were recognized for their dedication and hard work, bringing the total number of people who have successfully completed this very challenging program to 244 in its 17-year history. Judge John M. Maloney, Circuit Court for Montgomery County, presided. Senior Judge Nelson Rupp Jr., Circuit Court for Montgomery County, and Senior Judge Joseph M. Quirk, Circuit Court for Montgomery County attended as well. The judges took turns presenting diplomas and congratulating each graduate for their continued commitment to sober living. (left to right) Rockville Councilmember Beryl L. Feinberg, Judge Debra L. Dwyer, Circuit Court for Montgomery County, and Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton address an audience at the Rockville to Remember Lives Lost to Opioid Epidemic Ceremony.
“The Maryland Judiciary continues to improve access to justice through its technology infrastructure and to provide innovative ways to serve the public,” said now retired Court of Appeals of Maryland Chief Judge Joseph M. Getty. “I commend the judges, court staff, and Judicial Information Systems for all their work to move Montgomery County to the next level of service with electronic filing.” With the launch of MDEC in Montgomery County, nearly all of Maryland’s jurisdictions are now operating via MDEC, with the exception of Baltimore City and Prince George’s County. The Judiciary’s goal is to bring MDEC to every state court in Maryland. District Court Operations provided in-person support for Montgomery County Odyssey training for Go Live.
• On September 13, the city of Rockville kicked off “Rockville Goes Purple,” its annual Opioid Awareness Campaign, which seeks to shine the spotlight on the impact of opioid addiction and create community awareness. The program featured a keynote address by Judge Debra L. Dwyer, Circuit Court for Montgomery County, who also presides over the Montgomery County Adult Drug Court. During the Montgomery County Adult Drug Court’s 17-year history, more than 200
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