Courts Archives

Attorney General Releases New Guidance for Maryland Values Act

In accordance with Maryland law, the Office of the Attorney General has released updated guidance for interactions with immigration enforcement officials at sensitive locations operated by state and local entities. During the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session, lawmakers expanded the provisions of the Maryland Values Act that was originally passed in 2025. This was a piece of legislation that established standards for how state and local officials were to interact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement…

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September 30, 2026

Courts / Higher Education

In-State College Tuition for Undocumented Students Remains in Jeopardy

The US Department of Justice is continuing its effort to dismantle the Maryland DREAM Act, which provides in-state college tuition rates to undocumented students. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is asking a federal judge to resolve its challenge to Maryland’s in-state tuition policy for undocumented students without a trial. In a filing last week, DOJ opposed Maryland’s effort to dismiss the case and asked the court to grant judgment in its favor. The lawsuit,…

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September 23, 2026

Courts / Health and Human Services

Meta Settlement Could Bring New Resources to Local Youth Mental Health Efforts

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General finalized an agreement with Meta, sending $327M in settlement funds to Maryland for deliberately designing products to be addictive to children and teenagers, while misleading parents and the public about the risks. Maryland is set to receive up to $327 million from a multi-state settlement with Meta over allegations that Instagram and Facebook were designed with addictive features that harmed children and exposed young users to serious mental…

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August 31, 2026

Courts / Elections

MD Supreme Court To Decide Fate of Redistricting Ballot Question

The Supreme Court of Maryland will decide whether a proposed congressional redistricting amendment can appear on the November ballot after two circuit court judges separately ruled against the measure. The first appeal is set for Thursday, September 3, as the State Board of Elections prepares to begin printing ballots. Last week, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Thompson ruled that the General Assembly failed to comply with State election law when it passed…

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August 31, 2026

Courts / Elections / News You Can Use

SCOTUS Ruling Leaves Mail-In Voting Fight Unresolved

A US Supreme Court ruling could allow the Trump administration to move forward with parts of an executive order restricting mail-in voting, but the Court did not rule on whether those restrictions are legal, and the decision does not change Maryland’s current mail-in voting process. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) this week sided with the Trump administration in a procedural dispute over President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order on federal elections. The…

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August 25, 2026

Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Summer Conference

Judges and Local Experts Unpack Legal Changes Impacting Counties In Maryland

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…

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August 18, 2026

Courts / Public Safety and Corrections

Federal Judge Blocks NY Law Banning Masks for ICE Officers

In a recent decision, a federal judge, and Obama appointee, struck down a New York law banning face coverings for federal agents and a requirement to wear visible identification. A federal judge has temporarily blocked portions of New York's law restricting how federal immigration officers conduct enforcement operations while allowing another key provision to remain in effect. In an August 3 preliminary injunction, US District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino ruled that New York may not…

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August 6, 2026

Courts / Elections / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / Policy Deep Dive

Deep Dive: When Is a Bet Not a Bet?

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top policy issues of the day. Prediction markets have quickly moved from a niche forecasting tool into the mainstream, with users trading on elections, sports, government decisions, and world events. Their growth has opened a difficult legal fight over whether states may regulate them as gambling or whether federal commodities law leaves that authority almost entirely with…

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July 28, 2026

Courts / Summer Conference

Birthright Citizenship Upheld as State Policies on Immigration Enforcement Move Forward

US Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship in 6-3 decision on Trump v. Barbara as state and local immigration enforcement policies continue to rollout. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. Barbara has preserved the longstanding principle of birthright citizenship, rejecting a recent federal effort to deny citizenship to certain children born in the United States. Chief Justice John Roberts from the majority opinion: Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights—to freely…

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July 27, 2026

Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Summer Conference

Beyond the Bench: Legal Shifts Shaping Local Government at #MACoCon

The legal landscape is constantly evolving, and understanding the latest court decisions is essential for effective local governance. For county officials, staying ahead of legal developments is essential to making informed policy decisions and avoiding costly missteps. Recent court rulings and regulatory changes continue to reshape the authority, responsibilities, and day-to-day operations of local governments, often with significant implications for county budgets, personnel, public safety, land use, and service delivery. This session offers a valuable…

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July 20, 2026