ICAP represented Andrea Conte and Angela Nivens in a mandamus lawsuit against Deborah Elms Zrioka, the Court Administrator for the Circuit Court for Charles County, Maryland. The case centered on Maryland Rule 16-504(i), which explicitly guarantees the public’s right to obtain copies of and listen to court recordings. Despite the rule, Charles County officials had refused to provide copies of audio recordings, citing a 2005 local administrative order that prohibited the distribution of duplicate discs to the general public and arguing that the Rule was merely a “courtesy,” not a guarantee of public access.
Following ICAP’s advocacy and filing of a motion for summary judgment, the Charles County Circuit Court rescinded the restrictive administrative order, restoring public access to court recordings in accordance with state law. This victory was a vital step in ensuring that local policies are not used to block the public’s ability to research and document historic instances of judicial injustice.
