Maryland House Scraps Threat to Withhold Funds From Law School’s Clinic

The Maryland House of Delegates today revised legislation that would have withheld $250,000 from the University of Maryland until its law school provided information about a legal clinic’s clients. The legislation passed by the Maryland House and Senate would require the law school to disclose information on its environmental clinic, but the House version of the bill does not impose a financial penalty for noncompliance. The differing versions would need to be reconciled for the bill to be enacted. Some lawmakers have said the clinic unfairly takes aim at poultry businesses over the disposal of chicken waste, while others have said the legislation would undermine academic freedom.