September 20, 2016

Media Advisory:
Judiciary Walk-In Center to Offer Free Legal Help on Eastern Shore

SALISBURY, MARYLAND – The Maryland Judiciary is expanding services for people on the Eastern Shore who have civil matters in District Court.  On Friday, September 23, District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey will formally open the District Court Self-Help Resource Center at the Wicomico County District Court in Salisbury.  News media are invited to attend.

The ribbon-cutting celebrates the expansion of convenient, free legal services for people who need help with civil matters in the District Court, including:

• Landlord/tenant
• Small and large claims up to $30,000
• Debt collection
• Return of property
• Peace and protective orders
• Expungement

This is the Maryland Judiciary’s third walk-in center and is part of the Judiciary’s growing network of self-help services.  The District Court of Maryland opened the first walk-in Self-Help Resource Center in Anne Arundel County in December 2009 and the second in Prince George’s County in April 2015.  To date:

• Nearly 45,000 people have received legal assistance at walk-in centers
• 96 percent of Self-Help Center clients “strongly agree” that the services they received were helpful

WHAT
Opening of the District Court Self-Help Resource Center in Wicomico County -- remarks and ribbon-cutting

WHO
District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey will lead the opening.

WHEN
Friday, September 23, 2016
11 a.m.

WHERE
District Court Self-Help Resource Center
Wicomico County District Court
201 Baptist Street
Salisbury, Maryland 21801
(The ceremony will be held in a conference room on the first floor of the courthouse.  The Self-Help Resource Center is located on the second floor in Room 2248A.)

MEDIA CONTACT
The media are invited to attend. Please contact the Office of Communications and Public Affairs to respond, for more information, and to discuss the use of cameras and/or electronic devices.

Phone: 410-260-1488
Email: Kevin Kane or Terri Charles

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