Md. R. Elec. Fil'g & Case Mgmt. 20-501

As amended through November 13, 2024

Rule 20-501 - [Effective until 1/1/2025] Mdec System Outage

(a)Posting of Notices.

(1)Outage Onset Notice. In the event of an MDEC system outage, the State Court Administrator, as expeditiously as possible, shall notify each registered user by posting an MDEC outage notice on the Judiciary website or by other electronic means. The notice shall state the date and time of the onset of the outage.

(2)Outage Termination Notice. Upon the termination of the MDEC system outage, the State Court Administrator, as expeditiously as possible, shall notify each registered user by posting an MDEC outage termination notice on the Judiciary website or by other electronic means. The outage termination notice shall state the date and time of the termination of the outage.

(b)Effect of Notice.

(1)Electronic Submissions--Expiring Time Extended. If an MDEC system outage is posted for any portion of the same day that the time for filing a submission expires, the time to file the submission electronically is automatically extended until the first full day, other than a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, that an outage termination notice is posted.

(2)Paper Submissions--Accepted. If, during an MDEC system outage, the courthouse is otherwise open for business, a registered user may elect to timely file the submission in paper form.

Md. R. Elec. Fil'g & Case Mgmt. 20-501

This Rule is new.

Adopted May 1, 2013, eff. 7/1/2013. Amended June 20, 2017, eff. 8/1/2017.

HISTORICAL NOTES

2017 Orders

The June 20, 2017 order, added the language "Outage Onset to the tagline of subsection (a)(1); in subsection (a)(1), deleted language pertaining to the court being unable to accept electronic filings because of a system failure and adding language providing that in the event of an MDEC System outage, the State Court Administrator, as expeditiously as possible, shall notify registered users of the date and time of the onset of an outage; by changing the tagline of subsection (a)(2); in subsection (a)(2), deleted language pertaining to a system resumption and adding language providing that upon the termination of the MDEC system outage, the State Court Administrator, as expeditiously as possible, shall notify each registered user by posting an MDEC outage termination notice that states the date and time of the termination of the outage on the Judiciary website or by other means; in subsection (b)(1), deleted language pertaining to a court in a system failure being unable to accept electronic filings and adding the language "If an MDEC system outage is posted and the language "an outage termination is posted; in subsection (b)(2), deleted language pertaining to a court listed as unable to accept electronic filings in a system failure notice and adding the language "during an MDEC system outage; and added a Committee note after subsection (b)(2) pertaining to what happens when a courthouse is closed or unable to accept electronic submissions.

Committee note: There may be circumstances in which the courthouse where an MDEC action is pending is closed or otherwise unable to accept electronic submissions. In that situation, a filer is still able to transmit a submission through the primary electronic service provider in the normal way, even though the court may be temporarily unable to act on it.

See Rule 20-106(b) for exceptions to required electronic filing.