MARYLAND — A Maryland appellate ruling is putting a spotlight on what can happen when someone seeking a peace or protective order cannot get the respondent served before the case reaches its hearing date. Lack of service is not a rare procedural issue. Maryland Judiciary data specifically tracks cases dismissed for that reason; in one statewide reporting period, 12.3% of dismissed or denied peace-order matters were recorded as dismissed for lack of service. Service matters because it formally puts the respondent on notice and allows the case to proceed. Maryland even requires peace-order petitioners to provide identifying information intended to help law enforcement locate and serve the respondent. The issue comes as Maryland has already changed related protective-order timelines: legislation effective Oct. 1, 2026 expanded the normal temporary protective-order period from seven to 14 days and moved the deadline for the final hearing accordingly. The larger question raised by the case: Should someone seeking court protection lose the case because authorities couldn’t find and serve the other person in time?