EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0629*
SENATE BILL 629
D1 5lr2453
CF HB 786
By: Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee (By Request – Maryland Judicial
Conference)
Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2025
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 21, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Appellate Court of Maryland – Sessions at Educational Institutions 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Appellate Court of Maryland to hold sessions at certain 3
secondary and postsecondary educational institutions in the State under certain 4
circumstances; and generally relating to the Appellate Court of Maryland sessions. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 7
Section 1–403 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAN D, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 13
1–403. 14
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) of this 15
subsection, the Appellate Court of Maryland shall hold its sessions in the City of Annapolis 16
at the time or times it prescribes by rule. 17
2 SENATE BILL 629
(2) As designated by the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court of Maryland, 1
in conjunction with the deans of the University of Maryland School of Law and the 2
University of Baltimore School of Law, the Appellate Court of Maryland may hold sessions 3
at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus and the University of Baltimore. 4
(3) AS DESIGNATED BY THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE APPELLATE 5
COURT OF MARYLAND, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF 6
SECONDARY AND POSTSE CONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE, 7
THE APPELLATE COURT OF MARYLAND MAY HOLD SES SIONS AT SECONDARY A ND 8
POSTSECONDARY EDUCAT IONAL INSTITUTIONS I N THE STATE. 9
[(3)] (4) Its sessions shall continue not less than ten months in each year, 10
if the business before it so requires. 11
(b) A case before the Appellate Court of Maryland shall be heard by a panel of not 12
less than three judges. The panels shall be constituted, sit at the times, and hear the cases 13
as directed by the Chief Judge from time to time. A quorum of a panel consists of one less 14
than the number of judges designated to sit on the panel. The concurrence of a majority of 15
a panel is necessary for the decision of a case. 16
(c) A hearing or rehearing before the court in banc may be ordered in any case by 17
a majority of the incumbent judges of the court. Six judges of the court constitute a quorum 18
of the court in banc. The concurrence of a majority of the incumbent judges of the entire 19
court is necessary for decision of a case heard or reheard by the court in banc. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 21
October 1, 2025. 22
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.