How do I research a Maryland law problem?
Answer
As with any research, unless you are already knowledgeable about Maryland law, it is best to start with introductory resources and then to go on and consult more focused works - moving from secondary to primary resources.
A basic component to Maryland law research is to understand that Maryland law is created by the three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch implements and enforces Maryland's laws. The Maryland executive branch includes the Governor as chief executive officer, and 20 cabinet-level Departments, plus Independent Agencies and Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, and Advisory Boards. Legislative power is vested with the General Assembly. The General Assembly has two chambers: the House of Delegates and the Senate. The judiciary consists of the Court of Appeals (the state’s highest appellate court); the Court of Special Appeals (the intermediate appellate court); circuit courts (trial courts of general jurisdiction); district courts, and the Orphan’s Court. Local laws pertain to county and municipal governments rather than the entire state. Local government in Maryland consists of the 23 counties and Baltimore City.
Researchers can start your Maryland legal research with the Law Library's Maryland Research Guide. This guide is intended to be used as an introduction to the sources of information available to the researcher in Maryland law. This guide will help you find state rules, case law, statutory law, and administrative law, local law, and Maryland secondary sources such as legal encyclopedias, practice materials, form books, and journals, in electronic and print formats.
Researchers can also find research strategies and sources for Maryland law in Chapter 9 of the TMLL Guide to Legal Research, Researching a Maryland Law Problem. This chapter includes the following sections:
- Maryland Government
- Maryland Constitution
- Maryland Legislation
- Maryland Courts
- Maryland Administrative Materials
- Maryland Local Law
- Baltimore City Materials
- Maryland Practice Materials
For a research consultation or for more information, please contact the library.