Page 28 - University of Baltimore Law - Fall 2019

A View from the Bench
It's 9 a.m. and I walk into a courtroom full of individuals summoned to the District Court for one of many reasons. Few, if any, attorneys are in the crowd. Thus, my day begins with the challenges of hearing from self-represented litigants and making sure each, plaintiffs and defendants, has access to justice.
The Hon. Mark F. Scurti, J.D. ’91
Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera In rent court it is not unusual to have
has made access to justice one of the primary goals of the judiciary throughout the state. Under the leadership
of Administrative Judge Barbara
Baer Waxman and Chief Judge John Morrissey, I have been given great latitude to accomplish the goal of providing access to justice at the civil courthouse in Baltimore City.
One of our first initiatives was to
create a consumer debt clinic, staffed by volunteer attorneys coordinated through the Pro Bono Rent Court (PBRC) and Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, these volunteer attorneys assist defendants who generally are being sued by former landlords, credit card companies, medical providers or bail bondsmen.
Attorneys meet with individuals to advise them of their legal defenses and help them understand why they are being sued and the consequences of a judgment. In some instances, the attorneys are able to negotiate settlements with plaintiff's counsel, providing their clients with the relief of resolving their cases with clear terms. The attorneys appear under the limited-scope appearance rule to represent the defendants on affidavit judgment day only.
close to 1,000 cases on your docket
on any given day. The high volume of cases imposes yet another challenge to the court, to make sure everyone who appears is given an opportunity
to be heard and have their case resolved fairly. Volunteer attorneys from PBRC and the Public Justice Center are available to meet with tenants and assist them with their cases, including advising them of
legal defenses such as licensing requirements and rent escrow.
In addition, through the University
of Baltimore’s navigator program, students help tenants complete court forms, put together budgets to present to their landlord, and connect with volunteer attorneys. Mediators are also available to talk to parties in an effort to help them reach a mutually agreeable solution to their case.
Further, our courthouse is home to one of the many Self-Help Resource Centers established by the Maryland Judiciary and staffed by Legal Aid attorneys. Our center has seen a record number of walk-in litigants who receive advice on civil legal issues in the area of housing, debt collection, protective orders and family law. Judges and clerks routinely inform parties of this invaluable resource,
available to any individual regardless of income.
Even with all of these resources, many self-represented litigants still are not prepared when they present their case in court. There simply are not enough attorneys to advise the high number of self-represented litigants. To try and address the need for legal advice, the judiciary also provides a library of self-help videos that can be accessed at mdcourts.gov. The videos provide much-needed information to litigants about many areas of the law, and explain to them what they can expect in court.
While the judiciary and other agencies are making a significant difference in providing access to justice, there is still much more to do. A coordinated approach helps to provide all parties with a level playing field and aids the court in providing fair and efficient access to justice.
Please ask yourself what you can do to help bridge the gap. Not only will you be making a huge difference
in someone’s life, you will be doing something that makes you feel good. We are all in this together.
The Hon. Mark F. Scurti, J.D. ’91, is an associate judge, District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, and president-elect of the Maryland State Bar Association.
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