Annotated Code of Maryland

Contents

Annotated Code of Maryland is the official codification of the statutory laws enacted by the Maryland General Assembly and maintained by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes of Maryland. The compilation integrates statutory text with editorial annotations, cross-references, and historical notes used by practitioners at the Maryland Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and administrative bodies such as the Maryland Department of Legislative Services. It serves legislators, judges, attorneys, scholars at institutions like the University of Maryland School of Law and the Johns Hopkins University, and legal publishers including West Publishing and LexisNexis.

Overview

The Annotated Code organizes statutes into subject-based titles comparable to codifications such as the United States Code and the New York Consolidated Laws. It provides annotations that cite decisions from appellate tribunals including the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and references opinions from executive entities such as the Maryland Attorney General. The work is used alongside legal resources like the Bluebook and treatises by authors at the American Bar Association and the Legal Information Institute.

Maryland’s codification traces precedents to early compilations by publishers such as West Publishing and private editions like the Code of 1957 (Maryland), influenced by model codes from the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and reform efforts led by the American Law Institute. Major milestones include statutory reorganizations during administrations of Maryland governors such as William Donald Schaefer and Harry Hughes, legislative reforms following events like the Coleman v. Maryland decisions, and modernization projects driven by the Maryland General Assembly and staff from the Division of State Documents. Scholarly commentary has been provided by faculties at Georgetown University Law Center and historical archives at the Maryland State Archives.

The Code is arranged by Titles and Subtitles similar to structures used in the United States Code and the California Codes (state), with topical groupings comparable to the Illinois Compiled Statutes and the Texas Statutes. Each Title contains Chapters and Sections that correspond to enacted laws from sessions of the Maryland General Assembly and session laws compiled in volumes akin to the Statutes at Large. Cross-references point to opinions from courts including the Supreme Court of the United States, the Maryland Court of Appeals, and federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration when applicable.

Publication has involved partnerships with commercial publishers like Gale (Cengage) and Bloomberg Law as well as state printers coordinated by the Maryland State Archives and the Department of Legislative Services. Editorial responsibilities rest with the Office of the Revisor of Statutes of Maryland, which collaborates with staff attorneys, legislative committees including the Judiciary Committee (Maryland General Assembly), and external counsel from firms such as DLA Piper and Hogan Lovells. The editorial process incorporates citation verification against reporter systems like the Atlantic Reporter and statutory research tools used at law libraries including the Maryland State Law Library.

The Code is accessible in print and electronic formats distributed by vendors including LexisNexis and Westlaw as well as state-managed portals coordinated with the Maryland Department of Information Technology and the Maryland Judiciary. It is available for reference in repositories such as the Library of Congress, law schools like the University of Baltimore School of Law, public law libraries, and municipal law offices across counties including Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County. Users consult parallel resources such as the Federal Register and state administrative codes like the Code of Maryland Regulations.

Courts in Maryland, including the Maryland Court of Appeals and trial courts like the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, cite the Code when interpreting statutory language alongside precedent from the Supreme Court of the United States. The Code’s annotations facilitate legal arguments before tribunals such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and administrative adjudicators at agencies like the Maryland Department of Labor. Lawyers file briefs referencing statutory sections for matters arising under laws enacted by the Maryland General Assembly and interpreted in cases reported by the Maryland Reporter.

Amendments originate as bills passed by the Maryland General Assembly and are incorporated into the Code during annual updates by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes of Maryland. The process parallels codification practices used by entities such as the United States Congress for the United States Code and the New Jersey Legislature for the New Jersey Statutes. Revisions respond to judicial rulings from courts including the Maryland Court of Appeals and statutory enactments signed by governors such as Larry Hogan and Wes Moore. The Revisor issues annotations and historical notes reflecting session laws, and practitioners track changes via legislative tracking services provided by organizations like CQ Press and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Category:Maryland law