Md. judge asks lawyers for help on foreclosures

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland's top judge is urging attorneys to donate their time or money to help those facing foreclosure. Robert M. Bell, the chief judge of the Court of Appeals, sent letters Monday to every licensed attorney in the state, calling the issue one of the most important pro bono initiatives of our time. The Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project will train lawyers to take cases, advise homeowners and assist housing counseling agencies. Training sessions begin Thursday in Baltimore and are scheduled statewide for the rest of the summer. The Mortgage Bankers Association says more than 70,000 Maryland homeowners were behind on their mortgages in the first three months of this year, an increase of 70 percent over the year before. Information from The... [read full story]