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Jurisdiction

Md.

7 stories

U.S.Court order

Supreme Court will hear Asian-American parents' challenge to Maryland magnet school lottery

The U.S. Supreme Court on October 19, 2026, agreed to hear Association for Education Fairness v. Montgomery County Board of Education, a challenge by mostly Asian-American parents to admissions for four selective magnet middle schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. The justices limited review to whether a plaintiff attacking a facially neutral admissions policy as racially discriminatory must show aggregate disparate impact relative to the group's share of applicants.

Order (Supreme Court of the United States) → · NBC News, SCOTUSblog
4TH CIR.Court order

Fourth Circuit rules Catholic Relief Services violated Title VII by ending same-sex spouse's coverage

A divided Fourth Circuit on October 16, 2026, affirmed that Catholic Relief Services violated Title VII and Maryland law by terminating a gay employee's husband's health coverage. The 2-1 panel held Title VII's religious-organization exemption covers only religion-based employment decisions, not sex discrimination motivated by religious belief, and rejected the group's RFRA, church autonomy and Free Exercise defenses.

Order (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit) → · Bloomberg Law, Law360 Employment Authority
MD.Regulation

Maryland lets farm and forestry haulers use dyed diesel on public roads without state penalties under EO 01.01.2026.19

Under Executive Order 01.01.2026.19 (Oct. 9, 2026), Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency over diesel prices. Vehicles hauling agricultural or forestry loads may use dyed diesel on public roads without state citations or fines, and fees for 30-day Exceptional Hauling Permits are waived on non-interstate state highways. Federal fuel tax and penalties still apply, and the Comptroller is asked to seek relief from the IRS.

Text (Office of Governor Wes Moore) → · The Equiery
D. MD.Litigation

DOJ sues Maryland and two counties over law enforcement mask ban and ID rules

The Justice Department sued Maryland, its attorney general, the state police training commission and Prince George's and Montgomery counties on October 1, seeking to invalidate state and county laws that bar law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks and require them to show identification. The complaint alleges Maryland's SB 1 and the two county ordinances directly regulate federal officers and violate the Supremacy Clause and intergovernmental immunity.

Filing (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland) → · U.S. Department of Justice, The Daily Record