Read more about the article SCOTUS Ruling in LGBTQIA+ Storybook Case Sides With Parents
Courts / Education / Government Liability and Courts
SCOTUS Ruling in LGBTQIA+ Storybook Case Sides With Parents

In a 6-3 ruling the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Montgomery County parents that want the right to opt their elementary school children out of lessons including LGBTQIA+ themes.  As previously covered on Conduit Street, in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor a number of plaintiffs from Montgomery County Maryland were seeking to restore the ability to have their elementary school children in the public schools “opt out” of certain materials used in school…

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July 2, 2025
Read more about the article The DEI Divide: Navigating Public Service in an Increasingly Divisive World
Courts / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections / Summer Conference
The DEI Divide: Navigating Public Service in an Increasingly Divisive World

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals and policies have been the subject of recent court challenges and executive orders. In some cases the existence of a DEI program or policy has been cited as potential cause for repealing federal, state, and local funding. These potential roll backs of policies and practices come at a time when ideology driven attacks on government officials have been increasing, some even sparking new legislation in Maryland to extend protections…

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July 1, 2025
Read more about the article Pending Decisions on SCOTUS Shadow Docket With State and Local Impacts
Courts
Pending Decisions on SCOTUS Shadow Docket With State and Local Impacts

The US Supreme Court emergency docket, also known as the shadow docket, has 7 cases still pending a decision with some implications for state and local governments, including cases on immigration, education, and federal layoffs. Multiple cases remain on the US Supreme Court emergency docket that could directly, and indirectly, effect state and local governments. Here is a quick rundown of what could have potential impacts in Maryland communities and could see a decision any…

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June 24, 2025
Read more about the article Purdue Pharma’s $7.4B Opioid Deal Could Bring $90M to MD
Courts / Health and Human Services / News You Can Use
Purdue Pharma’s $7.4B Opioid Deal Could Bring $90M to MD

Maryland might receive $90 million from an opioid settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma. In a recent Maryland Matters article, the prescription opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma will likely pay out billions to over 55 states and territories for their role in the opioid crisis. Maryland is expecting to receive $90 million in the tentative settlement agreement. The historic settlement deal still requires approval from a federal bankruptcy court. The deal will allow individuals to retain the…

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June 19, 2025
Read more about the article Baltimore City Seeks $5B for Recovery and Prevention
Courts / Health and Human Services / Human Resources
Baltimore City Seeks $5B for Recovery and Prevention

Baltimore City is pressing for a long-term investment in recovery, prevention, and public health to repair the damage done by the opioid crisis. According to a Baltimore Banner article, Baltimore City is seeking $5.2 billion from the court to fund a 15-year abatement plan. The City recently won a $266 million judgment against two major drug distributors. This second phase of the trial focuses on future solutions, not past harm. The plan outlines funding for…

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June 11, 2025
Read more about the article US Supreme Court Unanimous on Reverse Discrimination Case
Courts / Employee Benefits and Relations / Government Liability and Courts
US Supreme Court Unanimous on Reverse Discrimination Case

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of a plaintiff who alleged she was denied a promotion and subsequently demoted due to her sexual orientation. This overturns a lower court ruling imposing a higher evidentiary burden on majority-group plaintiffs. The unanimous decision, authored by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, overturns a lower court's application of the "background circumstances" rule, which imposed a higher evidentiary burden on majority-group plaintiffs—such as white, heterosexual, or Christian individuals—seeking to…

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June 5, 2025
Read more about the article Maryland’s Assault Weapon Ban Stays in Place for Now
Courts / Public Safety and Corrections
Maryland’s Assault Weapon Ban Stays in Place for Now

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's 2013 ban on assault weapons after considering the case in the last fifteen conferences, effectively leaving the law in place for the time being. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that, once again, they will not take up a case, Snope v. Brown, challenging a Maryland law prohibiting the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms, such as the AR-15, and limits magazine capacities to…

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June 5, 2025
Read more about the article Connecticut Court Ruling Spurs Fast Legislative Fix to Workers’ Comp Law
Courts / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor
Connecticut Court Ruling Spurs Fast Legislative Fix to Workers’ Comp Law

A high-stakes court decision in Connecticut recently triggered a fast legislative response that underscores how one ruling can shift the balance in workers’ compensation systems. In March 2025, the Connecticut Supreme Court disrupted longstanding workers’ compensation practices by allowing administrative law judges (ALJs) to extend temporary partial disability benefits beyond maximum medical improvement rather than converting claims to permanent partial disability. The decision raised alarms among employers, including public sector entities, who warned that the…

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June 2, 2025
Read more about the article Federal Judge Temporarily Restores Pandemic Relief Funds for MD Schools
Courts / Education
Federal Judge Temporarily Restores Pandemic Relief Funds for MD Schools

Following a lawsuit filed by Maryland, 15 other states, and the District of Columbia, a federal judge ordered the U.S. Department of Education to reinstate extensions for use of COVID-19 funds in schools. The plaintiffs, including Attorney General Anthony Brown and team, argued that the cancellation disrupted essential educational services such as tutoring, building improvements, and after-school programs, and could lead to layoffs and budget shortfalls. In Maryland the funds in jeopardy were allocated for…

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May 8, 2025
Read more about the article State Archives To Offer Government Free Land Records Access
County News / Courts / Finance and Procurement / Planning and Zoning
State Archives To Offer Government Free Land Records Access

The Maryland State Archives, manager of the central land records database, has confirmed their plan to offer a governmental exemption from their planned user fee system to start this spring.  In correspondence with MACo, the State Archives have indicated: Those who access mdlandrec.net regularly for government business purposes will be asked to fill out a request form when logging into the site. With this information, we will ensure that those users will not have to pay for access. This form…

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April 23, 2025
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