On September 20, 2024, a Baltimore County judge opened a Zoom hearing and waited. The appellant, Eliezer Vogel, who was challenging nearly $38,000 in attorneys’ fees charged to his late father’s estate, failed to appear. Within minutes, the judge granted the opposing party’s motion to dismiss. Just like that, Vogel’s appeal vanished—not because his arguments…
Appellate Court of Maryland Unreported Decisions
When the Law Changes But Your Case Doesn’t: Maryland’s Marijuana Search Rules Catch a Driver in Legal Limbo
On December 27, 2022, Xavier Sanchez-Santos rolled through a flashing red light in Montgomery County. It was the kind of minor traffic violation that happens thousands of times across Maryland — a momentary lapse that typically ends with a warning or a ticket. But for Mr. Sanchez-Santos, this routine stop would spiral into a legal…
When Faith Meets the Workplace: The Teresa Harmon Religious Discrimination Case
Teresa Harmon had been caring for cancer patients at Kaiser’s Gaithersburg oncology center for nearly two years when the email arrived. Like millions of healthcare workers across America in August 2021, she faced a choice that would upend her life: get vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk losing her job. For Harmon, a registered nurse whose…
Bhairava v. State (2025): Maryland Court Affirms Denial of Defense Postponement Request
The recent decision in Bhairava v. State, No. 1471, Sept. Term, 2023, slip op. at ___ (Md. App. Jan. 2, 2025) (unreported), examines a defendant’s right to insist on proceeding to trial against their counsel’s request for additional preparation time. The Appellate Court of Maryland affirmed the Circuit Court for Baltimore County’s denial of a motion to postpone the trial, holding…
Appellate Court Reviews Vehicle Gun Possession Evidence Standards in Thompson v. State
As we delve into the intricacies of Maryland criminal law, certain cases emerge that significantly impact how we understand fundamental legal concepts. The recent decision in Thompson v. State, No. 1542, Sept. Term, 2023, slip op. at ___ (Md. App. Jan. 2, 2025) (unreported) offers us a fascinating lens through which to examine how Maryland…