Trusted for Integrity.
Chosen for Results.
Recent Blog Posts
Stet – Reckless Endangerment
Attorney: Andrew White
Anne Arundel County District Court
September 9-13
Not Guilty – 1st/2nd Degree Assault, Reckless Endangerment, Misconduct in Office
Attorney: Brian Thompson
Baltimore City Circuit Court
September 9-13
5 Years All Suspended, 2 Years Supervised Probation – Illegal Possession of Firearm
Attorney: Creston Smith
Baltimore County Circuit Court
September 9-13
Probation Before Judgement – 1 Year Supervised Probation – Failure to Remain at Scene of Accident
Attorney: Brian Thompson
Patapsco District Court
September 9-13
Stet – Juvenile Assault 1st/2nd Degree
Attorney: Brian Thompson
Baltimore County Circuit Court
September 2-6
20 Years All Suspended but 4 Years, 3 Years Unsupervised Probation
Attorney: Eric Bacaj, Richard Karceski
Washington County Circuit Court
September 2-6
Case Dismissed – Possession of a Firearm (Minor)
Attorney: Creston Smith
North Avenue District Court
September 2-6
Understanding the Maryland Appeals Process
This article outlines the appellate process in Maryland State court in five parts:
- initiation of the appeal and preliminary procedures;
- briefing deadlines and word count limits;
- the record extract;
- oral argument; and
- the time until an opinion is issued and petitions for review before the Supreme Court of Maryland.
This blog doesn’t cover every scenario, so if you’re a litigant thinking about filing an appeal, consult the Silverman Thompson appellate attorneys at 410-385-2225.
Initiation of Appeal and Preliminary Procedures
Maryland has two appellate courts. Most appeals start in the Appellate Court of Maryland (ACM), the State’s first-level appellate court. If a party loses in that court, the party can petition the Supreme Court of Maryland (SCM), the State’s highest court, to review the case. Roughly 85-90% of petitions are denied, so an appeal usually starts and ends in the ACM. In certain types of cases, a party may have right of direct appeal to the SCM, and if the case involves a federal question, a party can petition the Supreme Court of the United States for review, but those situations are uncommon and won’t be covered here.
Registering an Out-of-State Custody Order in Maryland
Courts in Maryland will accord full faith and credit to a child custody determination issued by another state, unless the order has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court with jurisdiction.
Maryland courts are required to recognize and enforce a child custody determination from another state or foreign country, if the original court had jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.
A child custody determination issued by a court of another state may be registered in the State of Maryland, with or without simultaneous request for enforcement, pursuant to Family Law Article § 9.5-305.
How to register a foreign child custody determination in Maryland
The procedural steps to register a foreign child custody determination includes:
- Filing a Request to Register an Out-of-State Child Custody Order and/or a letter requesting registration







