Right To Counsel
Baltimore made history in December 2020 when Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young signed legislation that will make the city the 7th jurisdiction in the nation to provide a right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. Sponsored by then-Council President and now Mayor Brandon Scott, the legislation passed the City Council unanimously in November and will help address Baltimore’s growing eviction crisis. Here’s how right to counsel will make an impact in Baltimore.
Address the power imbalance in eviction court- In 2020, landlords were represented in 96% of cases in Baltimore, while tenants were represented in 1% of cases. Right to counsel will help ensure tenants have a lawyer by their side.
Keep people in their homes- Approximately 25% of evictions end with the family becoming homeless. A study by Stout Risius Ross LLC, found that attorneys are successful in preventing disruptive displacement of Baltimore renters in 92% of the eviction cases they are involved in.
Now that you know Right to Counsel exist, what are next steps?- If you receive a Failure To Pay Rent Notice (FTPR) and are facing eviction take action. Please see flyers (English/Spanish) information below on how to obtain counsel.
Baltimore City Evictions Data
Public Justice Center has compiled a variety of information and data about evictions practices in Baltimore City to increase transparency, highlight inequality, and show how giving tenants access to counsel drastically prevents evictions. Many of these resources were developed as part of the Right to Counsel campaign. These reports were made possible by the Abell Foundation.
Justice Diverted: How Renters Are Processed in Baltimore City Rent Court
Justice Diverted was developed by BRU Coalition member Public Justice Center, in partnership with the Abell Foundation, with additional help from Jews United For Justice and Right to Housing Alliance. The report examines Baltimore City evictions court practices in-depth and identifies the ways our system fails renters by neither keeping them safe nor enforcing their rights to due process during eviction proceedings. See our Fact Sheet for fast facts, or download the full report for in-depth information and analysis.
Stout Report: The Impact of an Eviction Right to Counsel in Baltimore City
The Impact of an Eviction Right to Counsel in Baltimore City was commissioned from Stout by Public Justice Center in partnership with the Abell Foundation. The report uses financial data to demonstrate the benefits of providing counsel to tenants facing eviction. You can look at our Right to Counsel Fact Sheet for some fast takeaways, or download the full report.
