Opinion ID: 1918099
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Statutory ConstructionThe OPD's Authority to Decline Representation

Text: The canons of statutory construction demand that no word in the statutory text is interpreted in a way which makes it meaningless. Foley, 410 Md. at 152, 978 A.2d at 237. That is exactly what the majority does here; it completely ignores this canon. Sections 7 and 6(f) give the OPD the ability to determine the eligibility of defendants for appointed counsel, which includes the authority to decline representation. Nevertheless, the majority holds that, despite the statutory authority given the OPD to decline representation, the OPD may be forced to represent individuals whom it has rejected, that it does not actually possess the power to decline representation. According to the majority, the OPD's determination to decline representation is subject to review by the court and, should the court determine that it misapplied its statute, reversal of that decision, which, worse yet, will take the form of being appointed to represent the individual it had previously rejected. This flies in the face of § 6(f), which does not provide for such review. Moreover, to read § 6(f) as the majority does, requires that you read out of § 6(f) the OPD's right to decline representation and make it subject and subordinate to the court's eligibility decision, rendering that portion of the statute completely meaningless. Foley, 410 Md. at 152, 978 A.2d at 237. This result conflicts with the language of the statute and, thus, with what the Legislature intended.