Inside District Court
President’s Message
A Mission of Service George S. Tolley III
system and promoting the professional development of lawyers who represent injured persons. After countless educational seminars,
I fundraisers,
n 1954, a group of trial lawyers in Baltimore founded the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association with a purpose of improving the civil justice
political membership dinners, and nearly six
decades, the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ) stands as a testament to the vision of those trial lawyers. With more than 1,300 current members as this issue goes to press, MAJ is the largest state-wide specialty bar association in Maryland. No specialty bar association in Maryland is more active in the appellate courts as an amicus curiae, promoting positive changes in the law. No specialty bar association has better or timelier educational programs. And no specialty bar association works more closely with legislators to advance an agenda that promotes and defends the civil justice system. Our Association has prospered over the years as a
direct consequence of the hard work and dedication of its members, who join together in a common mission – to improve the civil justice system for all the citizens of Maryland, by legislative advocacy and by the professional development of trial lawyers. When all of our members work together, we are capable of accomplishing great things. Consider the periodical that you are reading Long-time members cannot have failed
right now.
to notice that Trial Reporter has grown to become a more prominent source of practical information and scholarship. In the last two years, the Court of Appeals has cited Trial Reporter twice more frequently than it has cited the Maryland Law Review over the same timespan.
When visiting colleagues around the State, I often see issues of Trial Reporter proudly displayed in the lobby or waiting room for clients to read. Te success and quality of Trial Reporter is directly attributable to the fine work of its authors and editors, working together to accomplish a common goal. Te ever-present challenge for our Association, of
course, is to serve the needs of such a large and diverse group of trial attorneys, and to keep everyone working together in harmony. With no shortage of strong personalities among our members, we are blessed with a surplus of energy and imagination. While disputes and disagreements are inevitable, they must not be allowed to distract from our core mission – improving the civil justice system and serving the professional needs of our members. Serving the needs of trial lawyers has always been
a multifaceted challenge – a challenge that we take up this year with relish. As just one example, MAJ’s Amicus Committee has expanded the support and assistance offered to members who find themselves on appeal – because even the best results at trial sometimes must be defended in the appellate courts. Members not as familiar with the appellate rules can get advice and guidance from more experienced lawyers – the same sort of informal advice and guidance that members receive every day on the MAJ general membership list server.
Of course, the
Amicus Committee will continue actively participating in the appellate courts to support pro-civil justice decisions and to urge reversal of decisions that impair access to justice for Maryland’s citizens.
Trial Reporter / Summer 2012 3
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