Between US Supreme Court decisions and outcomes and initiatives of the state courts in Maryland, county governments have a number of issues to track across a shifting legal landscape.
During the 2026 MACo Summer Conference session, “Beyond the Bench: Legal Shifts Shaping Local Government,” speakers helped county officials and other stakeholders understand what legal changes have taken place at both the federal and state level that county officials need to be aware of.
Representatives from the Maryland Judiciary touched on recent opinions as well as initiatives from the courts that effect local governments. Some of these were found to be helpful to county governance, and others presented new challenges to various county initiatives. Maryland Supreme Court Justice Brynja Booth covered a few opinions where the courts voted in favor of county interests and others where they did not. Topics included public nuisance law, state agency obligations and sanctions, and county responsibilities in service delivery and assurance.
Chief Judge John Morrissey of the District Court focused his remarks not on cases and opinions but on outreach initiatives and opportunities to collaborate that exist within the Maryland Judiciary for county governments. These include care and support service strategies for justice involved individuals with mental and behavioral health challenges as well as enhancing the security and safety of court buildings and court proceedings in Maryland.
The third presenter on this panel was Roscoe Leslie, who is the Worcester County Attorney and the President of the MACo Attorneys Affiliate. His remarks were focused on what kinds of changes have taken place in the federal courts, what those outcomes have effected for county governments, and how counties need to respond. He covered multiple topics including tax sale procedural changes and voting district standards for local elections.
More about MACo’s Summer Conference: