Woods v. Constantine

PER CURIAM. We granted certiorari in this case to consider whether the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination prohibits a police department from compelling a police officer to answer questions concerning the performance of his or her official duties. The case was argued September 14, 1994. The appellee, Nicholas S. Constantine, has resigned from the Baltimore City Police Department.

As they recognize and acknowledge, this fact renders the case moot as between the parties to the case, see Adkins v. State, 324 Md. 641, 646 , 598 A.2d 194, 197 (1991); Robinson v. Lee, 317 Md. 371, 375 , 564 A.2d 395, 397 (1989); State v. Peterson, 315 Md. 73, 79-82 , 553 A.2d 672, 675-77 (1989); Mercy Hosp., Inc. v. Jackson, 306 Md. 556, 561 , 510 A.2d 562, 564 (1986); Hagerstown Reproductive Health Services v. Fritz, 295 Md. 268, 271 , 454 A.2d 846, 848 , cert. denied, 463 U.S. 1208 , 103 S.Ct. 3538 , ⁴⁸⁹ 77 L.Ed.2d 1389 (1983); Attorney Gen. v. Anne Arundel County School Bus Contractors Assoc., 286 Md. 324, 327 , 407 A.2d 749, 751 (1979); Reyes v. Prince George’s County, 281 Md. 279, 291-92 , 380 A.2d 12, 19 (1977); State v. Ficker, 266 Md. 500, 506-07 , 295 A.2d 231, 234-35 (1972); Potts v. Governor v. Maryland, 255 Md. 445, 448-49 ,