Md. R. Jud. & Judi. Appts. 18-202.2

As amended through November 13, 2024

Rule 18-202.2 - Impartiality and Fairness

(a) A judicial appointee shall uphold and apply the law and shall perform all duties of the position impartially and fairly.

(b) A judicial appointee may make reasonable efforts, consistent with the Maryland Rules and other law, to facilitate the ability of all litigants, including self-represented litigants, to be fairly heard.

This Rule is derived in part from former Rule 2.2 of Rule 16-814(2016) and is in part new.

Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. 7/1/2016.

COMMENT

[1] To ensure impartiality and fairness to all parties, a judicial appointee must be objective and open-minded.

[2] Although each judicial appointee comes to the position with a unique background and personal philosophy, a judicial appointee must interpret and apply the law without regard to whether the judicial appointee approves or disapproves of the law in question.

[3] When applying and interpreting the law, a judicial appointee sometimes may make good-faith errors of fact or law. Errors of this kind do not violate this Rule.

See Rule 18-202.6 Comment [2].