Hare v. David S. Brown Enterprises, Ltd. Amicus, Source of Income Discrimination
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed an amicus brief in the case of Hare v. David S. Brown Enterprises, Ltd., urging the Supreme Court of Maryland rule that a minimum income requirement that a voucher holding tenant have income of two and a half times the total rent illegally discriminates against prospective tenants who use Housing Choice Vouchers. The brief details the legislative history of the HOME Act and the clear intent of the General Assembly to protect Housing Choice Voucher participants from the type of housing discrimination at issue in this case. 090524_HAREvDSB_CertAmicus.pdf .
State of Maryland v. Eric Sessoms – Sexual Harassment in Rental Housing:
The Civil Rights Division conducted an investigation of allegations of sexual harassment by a landlord on the Eastern Shore and found reasonable cause to believe that the landlord was violating State and federal fair housing laws.
American Management II, LLC – Felony Ban
The Civil Rights Division reached an agreement with American Management II, LLC to resolve concerns related to tenant screening language used by the Baltimore-based property management company. The language, which appeared in rental applications and other leasing materials, stated that applicants must not have a record of a felony conviction—raising concerns that it could discourage or exclude individuals with past involvement in the criminal justice system from accessing housing. After the office brought the concern to the company's attention, American Management took immediate steps to address it. Before any settlement discussions began, the company removed the language from its materials and worked cooperatively with the office to resolve the issue. The company agreed to adopt a revised tenant screening policy that includes individualized assessments for applicants and removes blanket exclusions based on criminal history. The company will also waive application fees for individuals with felony convictions for a two-year period and will pay $25,000 in civil penalties. For more information, click here: 040725b.pdf
Grants Pass v. Johnson Amicus Brief in United States Supreme Court
The Attorney General led a coalition of six attorneys general in filing a Supreme Court amicus brief supporting the respondents in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. The brief argued that the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment prohibits punishing people for sleeping on public property when they have no other place to lawfully sleep. The brief was prepared by the Civil Division with the assistance of the Civil Rights Division. Click for Brief
Comments to Federal Regulation Concerning the Use of Record of Conviction in Public Housing Admissions
Attorney General Brown, along with the attorneys general of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, led a coalition of 14 attorneys general advocating for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to standardize the federal rules on screening public housing applicants with criminal records. The coalition's comment letter responds to a HUD notice of proposed rulemaking. In the notice, HUD sought comments on a proposed amendment to its regulations concerning the use of criminal records in housing decisions. In its letter, the coalition of attorneys general expressed support for HUD's proposed rule that would standardize practices of criminal history screenings across HUD programs and provide individuals with criminal records a fair chance at accessing housing. Click for comment letter
Guidance on LGBTQIA+ Protections Under Maryland Law
Recent federal actions have created uncertainty around the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, but Maryland law continues to provide strong protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This guidance explains those protections, how they interact with federal law, and what steps individuals can take if they experience discrimination. While legal developments at the federal level may impact certain rights, Maryland remains committed to upholding equality and inclusion for all Marylanders. Read the Guidance on LGBTQIA+ Protections Under Maryland Law.
Law Enforcement Guidance
Attorney General Brown has issued updated guidance for Maryland law enforcement agencies outlining their role in federal immigration enforcement. This guidance ensures officers comply with the law while respecting constitutional rights and fostering trust with immigrant communities. Read the Guidance for Law Enforcement.
Center for Voting Information
Immediately prior to the November election the Center for Voting Information sent letters to thousands of Maryland voters that contained their voting history and threatened to expose voters after the election who did not vote. The Attorney General issued a cease and desist letter and the Center for Voter Information. In response to the cease and desist letter, the Center committed that it would not publish voter records following the investigation. Press releases at: 110124a.pdf; 103124b.pdf
Walter Lomax Act Coverage of Conspiracy to Commit Murder/Statute Entitled to liberal Interpretation for Relief
The Office of the Attorney General submitted a memorandum in support of the petition for judicial review in the case of Tyrone Jones in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City in March of 2024. Mr. Jones, who in 1999 was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, served ten years in prison before his conviction was overturned and the charges were dismissed. He later sought compensation under the Walter Lomax Act but was denied by an Administrative Law Judge, who cited that conspiracy to commit murder was classified as a felony at the time of his conviction. In our memorandum, we argued that conspiracy to commit murder was undoubtedly a felony at the time the Walter Lomax Act was enacted, and the historical classification should not have been used to deny Mr. Jones' claim. We further asserted that the remedial nature of the Walter Lomax Act should have been liberally construed to fulfill the legislative intent. Additionally, our office successfully led efforts to amend the Walter Lomax Act to include conspiracy to commit a felony. The Circuit Court for Baltimore City has since remanded Mr. Jones' case; further proceedings are pending in the Office of Administrative Hearings. Click for Memo.
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