Legal Studies Resource Guide: Administration of Justice

The Code of Maryland Regulations includes all laws enacted by the Maryland legislature, via the WestLaw datebase

This link provides access to the Code of Maryland (Statutes) and the Maryland Municipal Charters and Resolutions as compiled and maintained by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services.

Online access to the Code of Maryland Regulations.

The Register serves as the temporary supplement to the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). Any change to the text of regulations published in COMAR, whether by adoption, amendment, repeal, or emergency action, must first be published in the Register.

The Secretary of State's office handles certain executive functions within the state.
These include: Executive Orders, Extraditions & Requisitions, Pardons & Commutations, Public Disclosures with persons doing business with the State, and Service of Process.

The website for the state law library provides links to reliable sites covering legal issues in the state of Maryland.

Includes information on careers and services provided to the citizens of Maryland by the State Police.

This organization establishes and enforces standards to raise the quality of law enforcement and correctional services in the state of Maryland through the facilitation and delivery of training, education and prevention programs and its certification program.

Provides access to online information for the four levels of the Maryland Court system: two trial courts and two appellate courts. The trial courts consider evidence presented in a case and make judgments based on the facts, the law and legal precedent (prior legal decisions from a higher court). Appellate courts review a trial court's actions and decisions and decide whether the trial judge properly followed the law and legal precedent.

In addition to cases, statutes, and regulations, this open access resource includes a lawyer-author blog with analysis and annotations on pertinent legal topics.

Collected by staff at the University of North Texas, this site provides CRS reports that are publicly available. CRS prepares reports to Congress on topics being considered for legislation. These reports are usually only available through citizen requests to a congressional representative or through a Freedom of Information request. Searching is available by keyword or through subject browse.

This free online resource includes articles on various legal topics focusing on significant laws and cases associated with these subjects.

An open access database that includes searching by subject, U.S. case law, codes, regulations, resources for all 50 states, a local lawyer search and information on law schools.

Sponsored by the Cornell University Law School, this site’s main focus is federal law such as Supreme Court cases, the U.S. Code, the Code of Federal Regulations, and the Uniform Commercial Code. Also provided are links to the websites of each state, as well as a legal dictionary and encyclopedia, Wex.

Provides summaries of cases argued by the Supreme Court including a breakdown of facts, the basic issue being argued, a synopsis of the decision, and how each justice voted. Search by case name or browse by term or issue.

The following description is taken from The Code of Federal Regulations website:
“The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) annual edition is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. The 50 subject matter titles contain one or more individual volumes, which are updated once each calendar year, on a staggered basis. The annual update cycle is as follows: titles 1-16 are revised as of January 1; titles 17-27 are revised as of April 1; titles 28-41 are revised as of July 1; and titles 42-50 are revised as of October 1. Each title is divided into chapters, which usually bear the name of the issuing agency. Each chapter is further subdivided into parts that cover specific regulatory areas. Large parts may be subdivided into subparts. All parts are organized in sections, and most citations to the CFR refer to material at the section level.”

Although not the official edition of CFR, this electronic version provides more up-to-date information. The following information appears on the website:
“The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) is a currently updated version of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). It is not an official legal edition of the CFR. The e-CFR is an editorial compilation of CFR material and FEDERAL REGISTER amendments produced by the National Archives and Records Administration's Office of the Federal Register (OFR) and the Government Publishing Office. The OFR updates the material in the e-CFR on a daily basis.”

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress. The Daily Digest summarizes floor and committee actions providing a summary of the previous day's legislative activity. It is also possible to search the record for a specific date from 1995 to the present.

ATF is a law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. The agency partners with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, and use of technology.

The United States' primary source for criminal justice statistics

Created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this federal agency is charged with protecting the United States from threats to the safety and security of citizens by preventing terrorism and enhancing security; managing our borders; administering immigration laws; securing cyberspace; and ensuring disaster resilience. The site contains a section for job postings within the agency.

The mission of the DEA is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and to bring to the criminal and civil justice systems of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations, and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of and demand for illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.

The mission of the FBI is to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners; and to perform these responsibilities in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the public and is faithful to the Constitution of the United States.

This website for the United States Department of Justice, includes a “Careers” link on the top menu with information on the recruitment of Veterans and a list of job fairs.

A section of the U. S. Department of Justice website that provides a list of all agencies associated with the U.S. Department of Justice with links to individual agency websites.

The mission of the USMS is to enforce federal laws and provide support to all elements of the federal justice system by providing for the security of federal court facilities and the safety of judges and other court personnel; apprehending criminals; exercising custody of federal prisoners and providing for their security and transportation to correctional facilities; executing federal court orders; seizing assets gained by illegal means and providing for the custody, management, and disposal of forfeited assets; assuring the safety of endangered government witnesses and their families; and collecting and disbursing funds.

Links of interest include recent decisions, transcripts and audio of oral arguments, and case documents of the Supreme Court.