There are two resources you can use to determine what is happening in a case. This applies to criminal, traffic, and civil cases. There are differences in the information provided on each of them.

Many people know about Maryland Judiciary Case Search. You can input the name of your friend, brother, sister, co-worker, parents of your children's friends, or your own name and see criminal charges, speeding tickets, lawsuits, eviction proceedings, and all other court proceedings. It is a useful resource to find out if someone has a warrant or the disposition of a case of which you are aware. You can check out prospective employees or dating partners.

However, under certain circumstances, information disappears from Maryland Judiciary Case Search. If a criminal or traffic charge results in an acquittal or the charges are dropped (a nolle prossequi), it will no longer appear.  This means that you may not be able to see the disposition of the case.

Fortunately, you can still see what happened so long as the charges were not expunged. You can use MDEC, the Maryland Electronic Filing System, to see what happened. You go to "view documents electronically here" after clicking "E-filing if you don't have a lawyer." You can input the name or case number and see the disposition even though it no longer appears on Case Search. Note that once a record is expunged, it will disappear from MDEC as well.

Another use of MDEC is in Protective Order and Peace Order cases. These cases appear on Case Search, but only the Respondent is identified. However, on MDEC, the Complainant's name will also appear. So, if you see that someone has filed a Protective Order or Peace Order against you, go to MDEC to see who filed it.

MDEC's main purpose is to allow you to file electronically with the court and to receive notice of filings by e-mail. A pro se litigant may choose to use MDEC or to file by paper with the court. (Attorneys must use MDEC). It is faster and more efficient to use MDEC.

You can check the status of a case or learn information about people using both Maryland Judiciary Case Search and MDEC. They are both excellent resources.