It is a curious complaint that surfaced: Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services is being quite critical of the office of Kent County’s Circuit Court Clerk, Mark Mumford, on what looks like a very small point.
The department, a body of the Maryland General Assembly, issued a report last week stating the clerk’s office failed to promptly report convictions for serious driving violations to the state’s motor vehicle administration. This happened, said the report, in no less than five cases out of 15 surveyed. That’s over 30 percent! That’s also. . .Five!
Mumford wonders, “My office has a thousand responsibilities. Why are they picking on this little county for this?”
Says the report, “The law requires the clerks of the court to report to the MVA within 10 days of conviction. The timely submission of this information is critical because the MVA is responsible for. . .license revocation for driving while intoxicated, but cannot do so until the office transmits the case records.”
Says Mumford, “Half the counties in the state are having trouble meeting that deadline. When you have a judge that holds a case up, or a defense lawyer holds it up, you are out of line with their reporting requirement.”
The report complains that Mumford’s office missed the reporting deadline by periods ranging from five to 113 days.
Mumford responds, “Yes, one case was 113 days past deadline. The defendant failed to appear in court. A warrant had to be issued. They couldn’t find him. You can’t dispose of a case if it’s still an open case. It’s not possible to keep that from happening.”
What’s the big fuss about five cases? Here’s what the department stated, in conclusion: “This report does include a finding regarding a significant instance of noncompliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations.”
Mumford says, “It makes it sound like I’m in trouble. I’m not. The report has been responded to. The auditor has accepted our response and our strengthened controls. And why was Kent the only county cited for a problem we’re all having?”
Pondering that could make anybody wonder: Who’s already campaigning against Mumford?
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