The Case That Wouldn’t End
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews Maryland’s judiciary often presents itself as a model of stability, professionalism, and...
Tag: Due Process
Montgomery County’s Circuit Court Election Is a Blindfolded Vote
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews In Montgomery County, one of the most powerful offices on the ballot is also one of the...
Baltimore’s Protective Order Machine: When Allegations Become Weapons
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews When the state can take your freedom, your reputation, and your livelihood based on a...
Maryland AG Moves to Dismiss Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit in High-Conflict Child Custody Case
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews A federal civil rights lawsuit challenging prosecutorial decisions and court conduct in a...
At Thomas S. Wootton High School, Who Was the Aggressor?
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews As more details emerge in the shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School, a central claim is...
After Wootton, Annapolis Faces a Hard Question: Should Schools Be Kept in the Dark?
By MDBayNews Staff In the wake of the shooting at Wootton High School, a grim but unavoidable debate has landed squarely in...
Maryland Prosecutors Push to Close Citizen-Warrant Loophole
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews At its core, House Bill 336 is about aligning power with accountability. When a single...
Raskin’s Latest Broadside: Impeachment Rhetoric, Zero Proof, and a Dangerous Escalation
By MDBayNews Staff Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin has once again chosen maximalist rhetoric over measured governance—this...
How Maryland Family Courts Can Build Case Records Without a Parent Present
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews | Father & Co. A recent federal disability-rights ruling involving a Maryland parent...
Trump Team Targets Traffic Cameras in D.C. as New York Moves to Expand Them
By MDBayNews Staff A growing backlash against automated traffic enforcement is gaining momentum, and it’s now playing out...
Analysis: What Maryland Could Change to Prevent ADA Access Failures in Family Court
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews | Policy Analysis The recent federal ruling granting disability accommodations to a...
Federal Court Grants ADA Accommodations as Maryland Family Court Proceedings Continue Without Disabled Parent
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews A recent federal court ruling granting disability accommodations to a Maryland parent has...
Maryland Lawmakers Push “Child Protection” Bills—But Gaps in Custody Law Remain Unaddressed
Maryland lawmakers are advancing a new round of child protection legislation during the 2026 General Assembly session,...
Independent Review Affirms State’s Attorney’s Decision to End MONSE Partnership Over Constitutional Concerns
By MDBayNews Staff An independent legal review has affirmed the decision by the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s...
Why So Many Marylanders Feel Powerless Dealing With Institutions Right Now (And Why Everyone Feels It)
Across Maryland, residents are running into the same wall—whether in courtrooms, schools, zoning disputes, or state...
Baltimore County Lawsuit Alleges Illegal Protective Orders and Years-Long Separation of Father and Son
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews A civil lawsuit filed on December 2, 2025, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County...
Maryland’s Transcript Trap: How Miller v. Smith and Feng v. Chen Expose Access-to-Justice Failures
When Americans think about “access to justice,” most assume it means having a fair chance to appeal if a court gets...
Justice Cannot Be Blind to Invisible Disabilities
By Michael PhillipsOriginally published in The Daily Record, October 24, 2025 When Congress passed the Americans with...
The Gatekeepers No One Elected: How Maryland’s District Court Commissioners Shape Justice Before a Judge Ever Looks
Maryland’s justice system runs on a 24/7 hinge: District Court commissioners. These are not judges and, by law, they...
Maryland Punishes Parents Harder Than Criminals — And It’s a National Shame
In Maryland today, parents seeking to see their children face harsher repercussions than actual criminals. Violent...
Seven Ways Montgomery County Circuit Court Enables Custodial Interference
For years, I have filed petitions, provided evidence, and begged for enforcement of my custody rights in Montgomery County...
Two Years Without My Son: How Montgomery County Circuit Court Refuses to Enforce Custody Orders
It has now been nearly two years since I last saw my son. Not because I disappeared, not because I failed to show up, not...
Justice Denied: The Impeachment Files
By Michael Phillips “Equal justice cannot coexist with private galas in our highest court while citizen complaints are...
Let the Child Be Heard: How Virginia’s New Law Empowers Truth and Justice in Family Court
By Michael Phillips “A voice silenced is a truth denied.” For far too long, that’s been the quiet tragedy playing out...
Maryland’s Gun Violence Dashboard: A Step Toward Transparency, or a Political Tool in the Making?
By Michael Phillips On June 26, 2025, the Maryland Department of Health unveiled its new Gun Violence Data Dashboard, a...
Democrats Outraged Over One Arrest — But Where Was Their Outrage for the Rest of Us?
Democrats across the country erupted in outrage this week following the arrest of Senator Alex Padilla during a protest...
Maryland Codifies Child Custody Factors — But Will Anything Really Change?
By Michael Phillips In a move hailed by some as progress and by others as political theater, Maryland Governor Wes Moore...
A Voice for Justice: How Jeff Reichert Turned to an ADA Advocate to Defend His Rights and Protect His Son
In a family court system increasingly criticized for opacity, jurisdictional gamesmanship, and disregard for the rights of...
This Memorial Day, Let’s Remember All the Battles — Including the Ones Fought at Home
By Michael Phillips Memorial Day is a sacred time of reflection. We pause to honor the men and women who died in service to...
Maryland Court’s Habeas Order: Shielding Illegal Immigrants or Undermining Immigration Enforcement?
In a move that has sparked significant debate, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has issued a standing...
The Constitution Is Not a Vibe: How Parham v. J.R. and Other Landmark Cases Expose the Lie at the Heart of Mahmoud v. Taylor
There’s a dangerous trend in American family court — and Mahmoud v. Taylor is just the latest example. It’s the idea...
The Revolving Door Spins Again: Judge Harry Storm Retires Into the Same Broken System He Helped Create
When Judge Harry C. Storm announced his retirement from the Montgomery County Circuit Court in early 2025, there was little...