Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera addressed both chambers of the General Assembly Thursday in the first State of the Judiciary address since 2005. As reported in The Daily Record:

“The Judiciary is doing well and it is making strides in becoming smarter, more efficient and increasingly accessible to the public,” Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera said in a State of the Judiciary address to the legislature. “The future presents challenges and opportunities alike, and the time is ripe for reasoned and thoughtful reforms. I look forward to working with all of you on behalf of the people of Maryland.”

Barbera’s State of the Judiciary address to the joint session was the first since then-Chief Judge Robert M. Bell appeared before the legislature in 2005. Barbera succeeded Bell in July 2013.

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Barbera’s State of the Judiciary address was well attended by her fellow judges, including all six of her colleagues on the Court of Appeals, Court of Special Appeals Chief Judge Peter B. Krauser and Maryland District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrissey.

The state of the Judiciary must be measured “by reference not only to the quality of the justice we dispense but also to the vigor with which we pursue the ideal of achieving justice, for all,” said Barbera. “That is our charge from those we serve, the people of Maryland.”

For more information:

View video of the State of the Judiciary Address on Maryland Public Television (MPT).

Read the transcript of Chief Judge Barbera’s speech.

Read the full article in The Daily Record (paywall restricted).