Maryland Health Department Loses Bid to Toss Suit Over Detainees

The Maryland Department of Health and its secretary lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that criminal defendants who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial on state offenses are routinely languishing in jail without due process.

Disability Rights Maryland Inc. has standing to sue and has adequately alleged claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act, the US District Court for the District of Maryland said in a Monday decision.

The advocacy group sued MDH and MDH Secretary Meena Seshamani claiming they ignored their statutory obligation to commit individuals who have been found both incompetent to ...