Md. Dept. of Health v. Boulden
Boulden
Court
Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
Decided
June 3, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Practice Areas
Case Summary
Maryland Department of Health v. Jeffrey Boulden, et al., Nos. 534, 581, 582, 641, 643, 996 & 1291, September Term, 2024. Opinion by Graeff, J. CONSTRUCTIVE CIVIL CONTEMPT — STATUTORY SANCTIONS Where the court finds an individual to be incompetent to stand trial (“IST”) and dangerous, the Maryland Department of Health (the “Department”) is required, under Md. Code Ann., Criminal Procedure (“CP”) § 3-106(c)(4) (2024 Supp.), to admit the defendant to a designated health facility within ten business days of the commitment order. If the Department does not admit the defendant to a Department facility within that time period, the defendant can seek to compel compliance by filing an action for constructive civil contempt or an action for statutory sanctions under CP § 3-106(c)(4). Constructive civil contempt requires a finding, based on evidence, of a willful failure to comply with the court’s commitment order. In the Dorchester County case, the only evidence presented in support of the contempt petition was that the Department had taken action to alleviate the bed shortage in its facilities, but there were still not enough beds to comply with the court’s commitment order. Without evidence that the Department could have done more to comply with the order, the mens rea element of constructive civil contempt, i.e., willfulness, is not satisfied. Because the record does not support the finding that the Department willfully failed to comply with the Dorchester County commitment order, the court’s finding in this regard was clearly erroneous, and it abused its discretion in holding the Department in contempt. In addition to a contempt finding, a court can impose sanctions on the Department pursuant to CP § 3-106. To find a violation of CP § 3-106(c)(2), the court needs to determine only that the Department failed to admit the defendant to a designated health facility within the statutorily required ten-day period. Evidence that the Department could not comply with commitment orders due to the unavailability of beds does not categorically preclude sanctions under CP § 3-106(c)(4). If the court finds a failure to timely admit a defendant, the statute provides for the imposition of sanctions “reasonably designed to compel compliance.” Although the statute does not define the term “reasonably designed to compel compliance,” the legislative history makes clear that the intent of the General Assembly in enacting CP § 3-106(c)(4) was to impose a deadline for admission, with sanctions to enforce compliance. Given the increasing problem of a failure to timely admit defendants, it was reasonable for the courts to believe that large statutory sanctions would encourage the Department to explore all options to resolve this continued problem. That two of the defendants, Glenn D. Hawkins and Kennard Jacobi Goins, had been admitted to a Department facility prior to the sanctions hearing did not prohibit the court from imposing sanctions under CP § 3-106(c)(4). The statute does not contain any language stating that reimbursement or other sanctions cannot be imposed once the patient has been admitted to a Department facility. Construing the statute to limit sanctions, including reimbursement to detention centers, when the Department has already admitted a defendant to a facility prior to the sanctions hearing would add words to the statute and frustrate the legislature’s express intent to allow for reimbursement to the detention center for costs incurred in housing defendants that should be in a Department facility. In the Kent County case involving Jeffrey Boulden, and in the Baltimore County cases involving William Damond Lomax, Malik T. Jackson, Mr. Goins, Mr. Hawkins, and Steven R. Kauffman, the court did not abuse its discretion in its decision to impose sanctions. With respect to the amount of sanctions, however, we construe the statute to authorize the calculation of daily sanctions beginning on the 11th business day from the date of the commitment order. In the Baltimore County cases involving Mr. Lomax, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Goins, and Mr. Hawkins, the court did not calculate the daily sanctions beginning on the 11th business day. We reverse those orders and remand for a new calculation regarding the amount of sanctions. Circuit Court for Kent County Case Nos. C-14-CR-21-000044, C-14-CR-23-000050, C-14- CR-23-000146 Circuit Court for Baltimore County Case Nos. C-03-CR-24-000015, C-03-CR-24-000251 C-03-CR-23-002969, C-03-CR-23-003449 C-03-CR-23-003775 Circuit Court for Dorchester County Case No. C-09-CR-23-000286 REPORTED IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF MARYLAND Nos. 534, 581, 582, 641, 643, 996, 1291 September Term, 2
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 3, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Md. Dept. of Health v. Boulden: Case Summary
Case Overview
In Md. Dept. of Health v. Boulden, the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland addressed significant issues regarding the Department of Health's compliance with statutory mandates for admitting defendants found Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST). The case, decided on June 3, 2025, involved the imposition of sanctions for delays in admissions and the determination of constructive civil contempt.
Legal Issues
The court examined several critical legal questions:
- Whether the Circuit Court erred in finding the Department in constructive civil contempt.
- Whether the circuit courts abused their discretion in imposing sanctions due to a shortage of available hospital beds.
- The appropriateness of sanctions when defendants were admitted after the statutory deadline.
- The determination of a defendant's competency to stand trial and commitment procedures.
- Compliance with commitment order timelines and the implications for contempt.
Factual Background
- Jeffrey D. Boulden was found IST and dangerous by the Kent County Circuit Court, initiating the commitment process.
- The Department failed to admit Boulden within the ten-day statutory period following a commitment order issued on February 2, 2024.
- The Department cited a shortage of available beds as the reason for non-compliance, with 202 individuals on the waiting list at the time of the hearing.
- The court noted that while the Department did not willfully violate the order, it failed to meet statutory deadlines, prompting sanctions.
Court's Analysis
The court's reasoning included:
- Constructive Civil Contempt: The court found insufficient evidence of willful non-compliance by the Department, leading to the reversal of the contempt finding.
- Statutory Sanctions: Under CP § 3-106(c)(4), the court upheld sanctions against the Department despite claims of bed shortages, emphasizing that compliance with statutory mandates is critical.
- Competency Determination: The court underscored the importance of timely admissions to protect defendants' rights and ensure public safety, affirming that the Department must admit defendants within ten business days.
- Operational Challenges: The court acknowledged systemic issues within the Department affecting compliance but emphasized that such challenges do not exempt the Department from fulfilling its legal obligations.
Holdings and Decision
The court's key rulings included:
- The finding of constructive civil contempt against the Department was reversed.
- Sanctions imposed by the circuit courts for Baltimore and Kent counties were affirmed, with a recalculation of the sanction amounts.
- Daily monetary sanctions were imposed to compel compliance with statutory requirements for timely admissions.
Legal Precedents
The court referenced several important cases:
- Powell v. Md. Dep’t of Health, 455 Md. 520 (2017): Addressed the state's obligations regarding defendants found IST.
- State v. Crawford, 239 Md. App. 84 (2018): Established the framework for competency evaluations and commitments.
- Md. Dep’t of Health v. Myers, 260 Md. App. 565 (2024): Discussed the implications of failing to meet statutory deadlines.
Practical Implications
This case has significant implications for legal practice, particularly in the areas of mental health law, administrative law, and criminal law. It reinforces the necessity for state agencies to comply with statutory mandates and emphasizes the importance of timely mental health treatment for defendants. The ruling also highlights the court's authority to impose sanctions to ensure compliance, which may influence future cases involving similar issues.
Key Holdings
- The contempt finding against the Department was reversed.
- Sanctions for non-compliance were upheld, with recalculation mandated.
Practice Areas
- Health Law
- Criminal Law
- Administrative Law
Legal Topics
- Constructive Civil Contempt
- Statutory Sanctions
- Competency to Stand Trial
- Mental Health Law
Precedents Cited
- Powell v. Md. Dep’t of Health
- State v. Crawford
- Md. Dep’t of Health v. Myers
Legal Principles
- Constructive Civil Contempt: Requires evidence of willful failure to comply with a court order.
- Statutory Sanctions: Can be imposed for failure to admit defendants within the required timeframe.
This case underscores the critical intersection of mental health law and the legal obligations of state agencies, ensuring that defendants receive timely treatment while upholding their rights within the judicial system.
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Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 3, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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