Opinion
Filed: September 29, 2005.
This Court having been requested by the Maryland State Bar Association and the American Bar Association to accommodate the needs of attorneys licensed in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina and have relocated to Maryland, and
This Court having considered that request at an open meeting, notice of which was posted as prescribed by law, and finding that an emergency exists with reference to the displaced lawyers and that it is in the interests of justice to permit them to continue to practice while temporarily residing in Maryland, it is this 29th day of September, 2005,
ORDERED, by the Court of Appeals of Maryland, that new Rule 15.1 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Maryland be, and it is hereby, adopted in the form attached to this Order; and it is further
ORDERED that the rule change hereby adopted by this Court shall take effect September 29, 2005 and that a copy of this Order be published in the next issue of the Maryland Register.
/s/ Robert M. Bell __________________ Robert M. Bell
/s/ Irma S. Raker __________________ Irma S. Raker
/s/ Alan M. Wilner __________________ Alan M. Wilner
/s/ Dale R. Cathell ___________________ Dale R. Cathell
/s/ Glenn T. Harrell, Jr. _________________________ Glenn T. Harrell, Jr.
/s/ Lynne A. Battaglia ______________________ Lynne A. Battaglia
/s/ Clayton Greene, Jr. _______________________ Clayton Greene, Jr.
MARYLAND RULES OF PROCEDURE RULES GOVERNING ADMISSION TO THE BAR OF MARYLAND
ADD new Rule 15.1 to the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Maryland, as follows:
Rule 15.1. AUTHORIZATION FOR ATTORNEYS DISPLACED BY HURRICANE KATRINA TO PRACTICE FROM MARYLAND
(a) Definition
In this Rule, the term "displaced attorney" means an attorney who is an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama who has been displaced from the attorney's home jurisdiction due to Hurricane Katrina and wishes to continue to practice while temporarily residing in Maryland.
(b) Eligibility to Practice from Maryland
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, and subject to the provisions of this Rule, a displaced attorney may practice law from a location in Maryland as if the attorney were located in a jurisdiction in which the attorney is admitted to practice.
(c) Statement Filed with Clerk of the Court of Appeals
A displaced attorney shall file with the Clerk of the Court of Appeals a statement under oath that sets forth the attorney's name, permanent residence or business address, permanent telephone number, Maryland address and telephone number, and the jurisdictions in which the attorney is licensed and in good standing.
(d) Scope of Practice
Unless otherwise permitted by Rule 13, 14, or 15 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Maryland, legal services provided by a displaced attorney practicing law from a location in Maryland pursuant to this Rule shall be limited to services that arise out of or are reasonably related to the attorney's practice in a jurisdiction in which the attorney is admitted to practice.
(e) Maryland Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct
A displaced attorney practicing law from a location in Maryland pursuant to this Rule is subject to the Maryland Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct and is considered an attorney pursuant to Rule 16-701 (a).
(f) Duration
This Rule shall remain in effect until June 30, 2006.
Source: This Rule is new.