ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

In 1944, administrative direction for the courts of Maryland became the responsibility of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals as "the administrative head of the judicial system of the State" (Constitution, present Art. IV, sec. 18(b)). Not until 1955, however, did the General Assembly take steps to provide professional administrative staff to assist the Chief Judge with these duties. In that year, the General Assembly created the Administrative Office of the Courts (Chapter 343, Acts of 1955).

The Office is headed by the State Court Administrator appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. The Office helps the Chief Judge oversee and implement court policies established by the Chief Judge, the Court of Appeals, and the General Assembly.

The Administrative Office of the Courts conducts planning and research; provides staff support for the education and training of judges, as well as nonjudicial personnel; and prepares and administers the Judiciary budget. The Office serves as liaison with the legislative and executive branches; provides staff support for the Maryland Judicial Conference and the Conference of Circuit Judges; operates information systems; and gathers and analyzes statistics and other management information. The Office also assists the Chief Judge in the assignment of judges to cope with temporary backlogs or to address shortages of judicial personnel (Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, sec. 13-101).

The staffs of the circuit administrators in the First, Second and Fourth Judicial Circuits also are attached to the Administrative Office.

The Committee has five members. Authorization for the Committee and the Fund continues until June 30, 2001.

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