Maryland Supreme Court upholds courts' power to fine the health department over slow hospital admissions of incompetent defendants
The court reviewed sanctions orders from Kent and Baltimore County circuit courts. It held that the statute lets a court sanction the department for each day it fails to manage its waiting list so that the defendant is admitted as soon as possible after the deadline, starting on the eleventh business day, and that a court does not lose that authority once the department belatedly admits the person.
The justices also rejected a separation-of-powers challenge, calling the imposition of sanctions to enforce the statute a core judicial function that the General Assembly specifically authorized. The department had argued that it could not comply because of funding limits and demand. Justices Booth, Gould and Killough dissented.
The Maryland Daily Record reported that 236 people were awaiting placement as of June 30, 2026, and that judges have fined the department $1,000 or more per day of delay.
Source: Maryland Department of Health v. Jeffrey Boulden, et al. — Maryland Judiciary, by Supreme Court of Maryland (opinion by Justice Biran)
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