The Maryland Judiciary will have to wait to find out what the Senate thinks about plans to wrest judges of their control over major court information technology projects.
A hearing that had been scheduled for today on the judiciary budget has been moved to Feb. 21. Legislative analysts have recommended that the state move judicial IT into the Department of Budget and Management, an executive agency.
That has not gone over well with top judges, including Robert M. Bell, the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals. He told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Administration two weeks ago that the move would raise a separation of powers issue.
Since the Senate is moving the budget before the House this year, it will be interesting to watch how a Budget and Taxation subcommittee reacts to that proposal. Keep your eyes peeled.
