Rule 18-203.10 - Practice of Law(a)In General. Except as expressly allowed by this Rule, a judicial appointee shall not practice law.(b)Exceptions.(1) A judicial appointee may act self-represented in a matter involving the judicial appointee or the judicial appointee's interest and, if without compensation, may give legal advice to and draft or review documents for a member of the judicial appointee's family.(2) To the extent not expressly prohibited by law or by the appointing authority and subject to other applicable provisions of this Code, a part-time judicial appointee who is an attorney may practice law, provided that:(A) the judicial appointee shall not use the judicial appointee's position to further the judicial appointee's success in the practice of law; and(B) the judicial appointee shall not practice or appear in the appointing court, as an individual in a matter involving the judicial appointee or the judicial appointee's interest.(c) Prior to assuming official duties, a full-time judicial appointee shall enter into an agreement for payments, if any, relating to the judicial appointee's former law practice. A payment period limited to a maximum of five years is presumptively reasonable.Md. R. Jud. & Judi. Appts. 18-203.10
This Rule is derived from former Rule 3.10 of Rule 16-814(2016).
Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. 7/1/2016; amended March 1, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024.Committee note: Section (c) of this Rule does not appear in Rule 18-103.10, dealing with judges. A 2005 Administrative Order of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals contains a comparable provision pertaining to judges.
COMMENT
[1] A judicial appointee may act self-represented in all legal matters, including matters involving litigation and matters involving appearances before or other dealings with governmental bodies. A judicial appointee must not use the prestige of office to advance the judicial appointee's personal or family interests. See Rule 18-201.3.