ATTORNEY GENERAL

DEFUNCT UNITS

ADVISORY BOARD ON WAYS THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM AFFECTS CARE AT THE END OF LIFE
Contacts: Jack Schwartz, Office of Attorney General (410) 576-6327
Ruth Gaare, Bioethics Institute, The Johns Hopkins University (410) 614-4188

Appointed by Attorney General:
Jack Schwartz, Chair
Stanton Ades, P.D.; Robert H. Bass, M.D.; Teresa M. Bianco, R.N.; Alisa Billington, P.D.; Ed Bordin, M.D., J.D.; Father Timothy Brown, J.D.; Stephen C. Buckingham, Esq.; Rev. James J. Conn, J.D., J.C.D.; Ann Marie Doory; Virginia A. Dulany, M.D.; Thomas Finucane, M.D.; Janet H. Forlini, J.D.; Moises Fraiman, M.D.; F. Michael Gloth III, M.D.; Patricia Grimm, Ph.D., R.N.; Stuart Grossman, M.D.; Kathryn Hall; Diane E. Hoffman, Esq.; Paula C. Hollinger; Marion Keenan; Steven A. Levenson, M.D.; Sandra Martin, R.N.; Camilla O. McRory, Esq.; Joseph A. Mead, Jr., M.D.; Leonardo Ortega; Robert G. Rosenberg, M.D.; William Russell; Robert J. Ryan, Esq.; Clyde R. Shallenberger, D.D.; Henry Silverman, M.D.; George Smith; James Springrose, M.D.; Peter Staats, M.D.; Claudia L. Thomas, M.D.; Sue Vaeth; Janet Will, R.N.; Cheryl E. Winchell, M.D.; Jack M. Zimmerman, M.D.

In 1997, Office of Attorney General with Bioethics Institute of Johns Hopkins University began a project concerning health care services and law. They joined together to identify in what significant ways legal system affects quality of care at end of life, and to develop priorities for legal reform.

Created by Attorney General in 1997, Advisory Board on Ways that Legal System Affects Care at End of Life included representation from diverse organizations and individuals. Board served as a forum for developing ideas and discussing goals and priorities.

After funding ended, Board disbanded in Jan. 1999.

AGING, HEALTH CARE, & SPECIAL PROJECTS
On July 1, 2008, Aging, Health Care, and Special Projects was created to coordinate outreach to senior citizens on a broad range of issues, including health care and finances. Division also developed initiatives, partnerships, and educational programs for seniors.

Disbanded in April 2009.

ARBITRATION UNIT
Under Division of Consumer Protection, merged with Complaint Handling Unit to form Mediation Unit in 1997.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Staff: Reuel P. Belt (410) 576-6312; e-mail: rbelt@oag.state.md.us

Appointed by Attorney General:
Carville B. Collins, Esq.; Jared DeMarinis; Ronald A. George; Ross K. Goldstein; John B. Howard, Jr.; Allan H. Kittleman; Bruce L. Marcus, Esq.; Lawrence H. Norton; Robert Ostrom; Jamin B. (Jamie) Raskin; Jay Walker; Katherine Winfree.

Campaign Finance Report, January 4, 2011

In Nov. 2010, Attorney General formed Attorney General's Advisory Committee on Campaign Finance. Committee considered certain issues concerning Maryland's campaign financing laws, including how slates are defined; campaign loans; various disclosure requirements; revising aggregate contribution limits; and regulating use of newer media.

On Jan. 4, 2011, Committee submitted its report.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S TASK FORCE ON ELECTRONIC WEAPONS
Staff: Carl O. Snowden (410) 576-6584; e-mail: csnowden@oag.state.md.us

Appointed by Attorney General:
F. Michael Higginbotham, Esq., Chair
Byron L. Warnken, Esq., Co-Chair
Donald M. Alves, M.D.; Cynthia M. Boersma; Carol A. Crawford, Esq., Scott M. Hammack; Cary J. Hansel III, Esq.; Col. James W. Johnson; Cristy E. Lopez; George K. McKinney; R. Kenneth Meekins; Carl R. Pelton; Vernon H. Ricks, Jr.; Mark Warren.

Report, December 2009

In Nov. 2008, Attorney General initiated Attorney General's Task Force on Electronic Weapons. Task Force examined how law enforcement agencies in Maryland currently use electronic weapons, such as tasers. Further, Task Force recommended how best to train law enforcement personnel in use of electronic weapons.

Task Force reported to Governor, General Assembly, and Attorney General on Dec. 17, 2009.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S TASK FORCE ON VOTING IRREGULARITIES
Staff: Carl O. Snowden (410) 576-6584; e-mail: csnowden@oag.state.md.us

Appointed by Attorney General:
Sherrilyn A. Ifill, J.D., Chair
Orlan M. Johnson, Esq., Co-Chair
C. Christopher Brown, Esq.; Kimberly Haven; Moonyene S. Jackson-Amis; Deborah A. Jeon, Esq.; Daryl D. Jones, Esq.; John H. Morris, Jr., Esq.; Josue Pierre, Esq.; Lu Pierson; Carl O. Snowden; W. Gregory Wims.

In March 2007, Attorney General created Attorney General's Task Force on Voting Irregularities. Task Force studied problems with voting procedures which occurred in 2006 primary election, and made recommendations to improve State's election practices.

CHARITABLE ENFORCEMENT & PROTECTION WORK GROUP

CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION
In 2013, merged with Legislative Affairs to form Legislative Affairs and Civil Rights.

COMPLAINT HANDLING UNIT
Under Division of Consumer Protection, merged with Arbitration Unit to form Mediation Unit in 1997.

COVID-19 ACCESS TO JUSTICE TASK FORCE
Brian E. Frosh, Chair
Andre M. Davis, Vice-Chair
Reena K. Shah, Vice-Chair

Appointed by Attorney General: Robert M. Bell; Meryl D. Burgin, Esq.; Ward B. Coe III, Esq.; Danielle M. Cruttenden, Esq.; Robert C. Embry, Jr.; Susan M. Erlichman, Esq.; Brandon Etheridge, Esq.; C. Carnot Evans III, Esq.; Dorcas R. Gilmore, Esq.; Joseph L. Haskins, Jr.; Trudy Henson, J.D.; Thomasina Hiers; Phillip Huber; Wilhelm H. Joseph, Jr., Esq.; Michelle N. Lipkowitz, Esq.; Thomas E. Lynch III, Esq.; Robin Murphy; Pamela C. Ortiz, Esq.; Arnold Polinger; Stephen H. Sachs, Esq.; Mark F. Scurti; Zafar Shah; Matthew Stubenberg; Donald B. Tobin, J.D.; Gustavo Torres; Ronald H. Weich, Esq.; Marceline White; Caryn C. M. Aslan York.

Appointed by Senate President: Jill P. Carter, Esq.; Michael J. Hough; William C. Smith, Jr.

Appointed by House Speaker: J. Sandy Bartlett, Esq.; Luke H. Clippinger; one vacancy.

Appointed by Chief Judge, Court of Appeals: Kathleen G. Cox; Stacy A. Mayer.

Ex officio: Jake A. Whitaker, designee of Governor; Paul B. DeWolfe, Jr., Public Defender.

Final Report: Confronting the COVID-19 Access to Justice Crisis, January 2021

With Maryland Access to Justice Commission, Attorney General created the COVID-19 Access to Justice Task Force in June 2020.

Because persons involved in civil cases, such as evictions, debt collection, and denied benefits, are not entitled to an attorney if they cannot afford one, coronavirus is expected to create legal hardship for many low-income persons impacted by unemployment and illness and without resources. Before start of 2021 legislative session, Task Force worked on strategies and solutions to ensure access to justice for all victims of pandemic.

Task Force submitted its final report in January 2021.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATONS DIVISION
In Feb. 2007, reorganized as Criminal Division.

ENFORCEMENT UNIT
Under Division of Consumer Protection.

FIREARMS TRAFFICKING UNIT
Under Criminal Division, the Firearms Trafficking Unit was established in 2010.

GANG PROSECUTION UNIT
Under Criminal Division, Gang Prosecution Unit was created within Criminal Division in 2010.

HEALTH CARE FRAUD UNIT
Under Criminal Investigations Division, disbanded in Dec. 1998.

HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT UNIT
Reorganized as Aging, Healthcare, and Special Projects in July 2008.

HOMEBUILDER REGISTRATION UNIT
Under Division of Consumer Protection, renamed Home Builder and Home Builder Sales Representative Registration Unit on Oct. 1, 2008 (Chapters 480 & 481, Acts of 2008).

INTERNET PRIVACY UNIT
To protect the privacy of on-line users, Attorney General formed Internet Privacy Unit in Jan. 2013.

Unit monitored companies to ensure compliance with State and federal consumer protection laws, including Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which restricts companies from collecting personal information of children under 13 years old. Unit also examined weaknesses in on-line privacy policies and worked to inform businesses and consumers about privacy rights. Where appropriate, Unit pursued enforcement actions to ensure that privacy of consumers is protected.

Unit disbanded in 2014, when its functions transferred to Division of Consumer Protection.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
In 2013, merged with Civil Rights Division to form Legislative Affairs and Civil Rights.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS & CIVIL RIGHTS
Separated into two distinct units in April 2017.

MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT FUNDS WORK GROUP
Appointed by Attorney General:
Eric C. Brown; Julia Day; Robert C. Embry, Jr.; Carol Anne Gilbert; William D. Gruhn; Anthony J. Mohan; Catherine J. Motz; Doyle L. Niemann; Anne Baker Norton; Mark S. Petrauskas; Victor R. Ramirez; Suzanne Sangree; Stephen D. Silver; Katherine Winfree.

Final Report: Mortgage Serving Settlement - Allocation of Settlement Funds for Housing Counselors, Legal Services, and other Housing Initiatives, May 30, 2012

In Feb. 2012, Attorney General convened Mortgage Settlement Funds Work Group to advise on how to distribute Maryland's share of approximately 25 billion dollars from a consent order entered into by U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, forty-nine states, and five largest bank servicers of mortgages. Settlement resulted from a thorough investigation into foreclosure abuses and fraudulent mortgage servicing practices, and funds are to be used to help homeowners who were victims of such abuses and practices.

Work Group submitted its report on May 30, 2012.

SPECIAL CRIMES UNIT
Under Criminal Investigations Division, phased out in Feb. 2007.

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNIT
Under Criminal Division, discontinued in Jan. 2015.

WORK GROUP ON CHILDREN'S ON-LINE PRIVACY PROTECTION
Staff: Stephen M. Ruckman (410) 576-7035; e-mail: sruckman@oag.state.md.us

Appointed by Attorney General:
Stephen M. Ruckman, Co-Chair
Steven M. Sakamoto-Wengel, Co-Chair
Angela J. Campbell, J.D.; William D. (Will) Castleberry; Jerry Cerasale, J.D.; Christopher DiPietro; Amina Fazlullah, J.D.; David Jacobs; Wayne J. Keeley, J.D.; Sara C. Kloek; Allison M. Lefrak, J.D.; Joni Lupovitz, J.D.; Douglas Miller; Paula K. Minsk; Kathryn Montgomery, Ph.D.; Emma Morris, Esq.; Vanstan L. (Vans) Stevenson; Marceline White.

Report, December 2013

In June 2013, Office of Attorney General was authorized to convene Work Group on Children's On-Line Privacy Protection (Chapter 246, Acts of 2013). Work Group examined issues concerning protection of children's privacy while using Internet and mobile applications. These issues included what data is collected about children through on-line advertising; and what effect various forms of on-line advertising have on children. Work Group considered current and future federal and State regulation of children's on-line privacy, on-line advertising, and data collection; what best practices are used by Internet and mobile applications industries to protect on-line privacy of children; and what best practices are recommended by child advocates.

On Dec. 30, 2013, Work Group's final report was submitted to General Assembly.

WORK GROUP ON HOME APPLIANCE WARRANTIES
Appointed by Attorney General: Melanie Askey; Rebecca G. Bowman; Eric S. Friedman; Luke Harms; Dean Landers; Michael Lemov; Kevin Messner; Steven M. Sakamoto-Wengel; Jay Walker; Marceline White; Jeffrie Zellmer.

In July 2013, Work Group on Home Warranties was convened by Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division to conduct study mandated by General Assembly (Chapter 408, Acts of 2013). Work Group analyzed complaints received concerning home appliances; evaluated what protection current requirements and regulations provide to purchasers seeking enforcement of manufacturers' express warranties on home appliances; and made recommendations concerning State law.

Work Group submitted its report to Senate Finance Committee and House Economic Matters Committee in Dec. 2013.