(ANNAPOLIS, MD — January 8, 2008) Recently retired Court of Appeals Judge Alan M. Wilner will return to the position of chairperson of the Court’s Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Maryland Court of Appeals announced today.

“I am absolutely delighted that Judge Wilner has agreed to assume this responsibility in addition to the other projects he has undertaken as a retired judge,” Judge Bell said.

Judge Wilner was appointed as a member of the Rules Committee on July 17, 1984 and served as its chairperson from March 4, 1985 until October 24, 1996 when he was appointed to the Court of Appeals.

“The Court has been fortunate to have experienced lawyers and judges – both retired and active – serve as its Rules Committee chairperson. Alan is the first to have served as the chairperson as both an active and a retired judge. I cannot think of anyone better suited for this assignment,” Judge Bell said.

The chairperson’s vacancy on the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, often referred to simply as the Rules Committee, was created when Judge Joseph F. Murphy, Jr. was appointed to the Maryland Court of Appeals by Gov. Martin O’Malley in December.

Under Article IV § 18(a) of the Maryland Constitution, “the Court of Appeals is empowered to regulate the practice and procedure in, and the judicial administration of, the courts of this State; and under Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article § 13-301, the Court of Appeals may appoint a standing committee of lawyers, judges, and other persons competent in judicial practice, procedure, or administration to assist the Court in the exercise of its rulemaking power.”

The Rules Committee was appointed originally in 1946 to succeed an ad hoc Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure created in 1940. Its members meet regularly to consider proposed amendments and additions to the Maryland Rules of Procedure and to submit recommendations for change to the Court of Appeals.

For more information on the Rules Committee, visit mdcourts.gov/rules.

# # # #