Certified Questions of Law Currently Before the Supreme Court

William Samuel Blake v. State of Maryland - Misc. No. 2, September Term, 2022

Certified Question from the Court of Special Appeals

Questions: 1) Did the post-conviction court err by holding that trial counsel had not rendered ineffective assistance by failing to move to compel discoverable impeachment evidence regarding a State's witness [Officer Laronde]? 2) In the alternative, did the post-conviction court err by ruling that the State had not violated its Brady obligations by failing to disclose impeachment evidence regarding a State's witness?

Argued in the December 2022 session of Court.

Counsel for appellant: Helki Philipsen
Counsel for appellee: Carrie J. Williams

 

Michele Williams v. Morgan State University - Misc. No. 9, September Term, 2022

Certified Question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Question: Does the waiver of sovereign immunity for “tort action[s]” in the Maryland Tort Claims Act, Md. Code Ann., State Gov’t § 12-104(a)(1), extend to federal statutory claims, including those where the alleged harm is wrongful termination in retaliation for whistleblowing?

To be argued in the February 2023 session of Court.

Counsel for appellant: Daniel Edward Kenney
Counsel for appellee: Julia Doyle Bernhardt and Brian E. Frosh